Bury treasure & draw a ‘real’ map

When we have visitors, one of the games my boys like to organise is a treasure hunt. I have old Tupperware / storage boxes that I don’t mind getting dirty, and I fill one of them with little treasures. This could be easter eggs, chocolate coins, bubble wands, jewellery, anything. The kids (ahem, I mean pirates) go off into the garden (or woods) and bury the treasure chest somewhere in the ground. So we don’t actually lose the treasure, they have to remember to mark the soil somehow, for example with a “secret” rock that will help them recognise it. Then they get to work with a large sheet of paper, making a map that somewhat resembles the setting (i.e. garden chairs, fountain, bush, etc), and then a big X marks the spot where the treasure is. Us grown ups have to follow the map to find the treasure! It’s a drawn-out game that keeps the little kids busy while the parents drink wine. A winning formula.

Step 1

Dig a hole and bury the treasure ;)

Step 2

They draw a map… and we decipher it (easier said than done!!)

Treasure for everyone!

Thankfully kids are pretty rubbish at keeping secrets, and great at dropping really obvious hints, so with a bit of teamwork we always end up finding the treasure. When the treasure contains things like bubble wands or small cars or toys, it extends the activity long enough to finish your glass of wine.