(Age group – 4 to 14 years)
So.. you have decided not to throw a party this time. And your kid is also on board with this.. kudos.
But this doesn’t mean that you can’t make the day special for him/her. You can plan a treasure hunt.
I did this when my son was under the weather and there was no way I could host a party. So I did what I do best. Plan.
I did my R&D on treasure hunts. There were so many types. So I combined all of them. This was his 9th birthday.. so I also arranged 9 gifts for him. They were not big.. but meaningful gifts. A coupon booklet, a book, a set of table tennis racquets, a pencil box etc.
So, what I did was.. write some clues and hid them. I also made an elaborate treasure map to tell him where the final hidden treasure chest is. This map was based on our home only. Still it was a little difficult for him to understand.
Below are the clues I wrote. The first one was on the mirror where he brushes his teeth. So he hunted the first thing in the morning.
- Happy Birthday dear. Now walk on your feet. You will find your next clue under your favourite seat.
- While you are up walking around.. go to the place where you go to lay down
- If you want to find more clues, look in the place where you put your shoes.
- For the next clue you should plug your nose.. cuz its hiding where you put your dirty clothes
- One hand is longer than the other but you don’t need a doc.. it has numbers 1 to 12.. it better be a ____.
- Wanting more? Why don’t you check the front door?
- I can take you to places you have never seen. But first type your password in on my screen.
- If you are in a hungry mood, go here to find your food.
- Looking for the final prize? Go where you can look into your own eyes. (This is where I hid the map given below. so, in essence it was a double scavenger hunt.)
I drew the map on a plain A4 sheet. Then put wet tea bags here and there on the paper to give it an old paper kind of feel. I also burned the edges with a matchstick to make it look authentic. (Yes I go to these lengths for just a treasure hunt.)
In the end.. when he had solved all the clues.. it was worth no party.
Then he cut a homemade cake and I made him his favourite dinner.. dal makhani and shahi paneer. He enjoyed the rest of the day with his new gifts.
P.S. If your kid has outgrown treasure hunts, please look at my earlier post titled ‘Lockdown Birthday Crisis‘. And don’t forget to decorate his room with balloons and ribbons.