Birthdays are always fun, no matter how old you are—and throwing in some birthday scavenger hunt clues makes them even better. If you’re looking for a fun way to level up your child’s birthday celebration this year, try a birthday scavenger hunt. It’s such a simple way to add some fun, and honestly—watching your kid light up while searching for their birthday presents is the best. You can hide little surprises around the house, starting at the front door or really any place and work their way to the big gift, or keep it simple with a few birthday treasure hunt clues that lead to one big prize.
Either way, it’s a great way to keep the fun going and make the day feel extra special. At the bottom of this post, I’ve got birthday scavenger hunt clues and blank scavenger hunt clue cards you can reuse every year. Whether you’re hiding the clue in a shoe or setting a time limit to up the challenge, your kid will have a blast searching for that hidden treasure. So grab your coffee (or let’s be real, maybe a cupcake), and let’s make this child’s birthday one to remember.
Why Do a Birthday Scavenger Hunt?
If you’ve never done a birthday scavenger hunt, you totally should—it’s seriously one of the most fun things to add to a party. It makes the day feel extra special without a ton of effort, and it’s just a cute way to keep the birthday fun going. You can start it right after birthday breakfast and have the clue cards lead to small gifts or save it for later when it’s time for the big birthday present. Either way, watching your kid light up as they follow the clues is the best.
It works for different age groups too, which makes it super easy to change up depending on the kid. You can keep it simple with some easy scavenger hunt riddles and even add more clue cards for older kids. Whichever way you decide to do it, they’ll have a super fun birthday scavenger hunt. I’ve also got a full step-by-step guide below and some printable scavenger hunt clue cards to make it all easy. Honestly, it’s just a fun little thing that adds a ton of joy to the day.
How to Set Up the Scavenger Hunt
If you’ve never set up a birthday scavenger hunt before, don’t worry—I’ve got you. It’s actually super easy, and once you’ve done it, you’ll want to do it every year. Here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you set it up:
- Pick where you want the scavenger hunt game to happen. You can do it inside the house, in the backyard, or even a mix of both. Just think about where you’ll be celebrating and how much space you want to cover.
- Decide how many clues you want. Five to ten clue cards usually work great for birthday scavenger hunts. I’ve included ten clue cards for this. If your kid is younger, keep it short and simple. For older kids, you can get a little trickier with the birthday treasure hunt clues and add a few more stops.
- Start with the first clue in an obvious place. You can hand over the first clue card to your kid or place it in a spot where it is obvious, like the front door, maybe after breakfast or whenever you’d like to start the scavenger hunt.
- Plan out your clue locations. Think of places around the house your kid will recognize—like their favorite toy bin, under the couch cushions in the living room, under the dining room table, or even inside a shoe. Just be sure to keep track of where each clue is going. The clue cards I’ve included are numbered, which will make them easier to follow. Make sure you keep track; it can be sometimes confusing if you’re not paying attention.
- Write your clues (or use printable clues to save time). You can keep them simple, like “Go to the place where your shoes like to hide,” or rhyme them if you’re feeling fancy. I have some birthday scavenger hunt ideas and clue cards you can print at the bottom of this post to make things even easier.
- Add surprises at some stops (optional but fun). These don’t have to be big birthday presents—just small treats, stickers, or notes. You can even sneak in a birthday card. Save the big gift for the final clue, and make that your hidden treasure. Adding some birthday coupons leading up to the birthday present would be another fun idea.
- Decide if you want to set a time limit. This is totally optional, but adding a timer can make things extra fun, especially for older kids who like a little challenge.
- Enjoy the chaos! Once the hunt begins, follow them around, cheer them on, and soak up all the smiles. It’s such a fun way to stretch out the birthday celebration and make it more memorable. At the end of the fun scavenger hunt the birthday child will come across their birthday gift.
Birthday Scavenger Hunt Clues
Here are some prefilled birthday scavenger hunt clues. I kept them pretty simple, so they’ll work for most people. But if you want to make them a little more personal, I’ve also included a blank birthday scavenger hunt printable so you can create your own. That way, you can put the clues in different spots and come up with your own fun twists if these don’t work for you.
- The day you were born was full of cheer, now it’s your birthday—your big day is here! To start this hunt and find your prize, go look where socks like to hide. (Hide in the sock drawer.)
- You found the clue, you’re doing great, no time to stop or hesitate! This next one’s hiding near a treat—where we keep things cold to eat! (Hide in the freezer.)
- Brrr, that was chilly! On to more, The next one’s near the entry door. Where shoes and boots all take a rest!(Hide in shoe rack or entryway.)
- The hunt goes on, you’re on the track, you’ve got the smarts—you’ve got the knack! This next clue’s where you lay your head, check underneath or near your bed. (Hide under bed or pillow.)
- You’re halfway there—don’t lose steam, next clue’s hiding where you dream. Not in your room, but where we rest, the family couch is now your quest! (Hide under or behind the couch.)
- This clue is sneaky, take a peek, where books and stories love to speak. A shelf that’s filled with tales galore, might hide the clue you’re looking for! (Hide in a book or on a bookshelf.)
- You’ve done so well, it’s nearly time, to find this clue with your sharp mind. It’s near the spot that bubbles clean—check where dishes can be seen! (Hide by the kitchen sink.)
- Water flows and mirrors gleam, this spot is part of every routine. You brush and wash and maybe sing—find your clue near this morning thing. (Hide in the bathroom.)
- This game is nearly at its end, you’ve been a top clue-hunting friend! Your next hint’s where snacks are stowed—that secret shelf or pantry load! (Hide in a snack drawer or pantry.)
- You’ve made it now, your hunt is done, you’ve searched and solved and had your fun! For birthday joy and a sweet surprise, check the room where clothes get clean and dry! (Hide in the laundry room.)
Supplies Needed
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The supplies needed for the birthday scavenger hunt printable are simple. All you need is the printable and a few optional items:
- The birthday scavenger hunt printable
- Optional cardstock to make this durable
- Printer: if you don’t have one, go to your local printer shop
Looking for birthday printables? Take a look at these:
- Birthday I Spy Printable—Search, Count, and Color This would be a great birthday activity for kids. All they have to do is search and count how many of each object there are. It also doubles as a coloring page. This would be a great way to keep kids busy while you get the birthday festivities going.
If you are looking for more scavenger hunt printables, look here.
Download the Printable
Click the PDF link at the bottom of the post to download the printable. Print as many as you like, and let the fun begin. The printable is meant to be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper. One paper includes ten blank clue cards, so you can create your own, and the other one is prefilled.
This printable is for personal use only. Feel free to print as many copies as you’d like, but please don’t share or sell the files. If someone else wants a copy, send them to this post to download it. Thanks for your support!
Get your copy of the printable birthday scavenger hunt here.
Let me know what you think of this printable. If you enjoyed it, drop a comment below—I always love hearing your thoughts! I hope you have a memorable birthday experience!
