Looking for a fun, screen-free activity to keep the kids entertained at home? A scavenger hunt is the perfect mix of adventure, learning, and creativity—all without leaving your living room or backyard. In this guide, you’ll discover 100+ at-home scavenger hunt ideas for kids, including 80 clever things to add to an indoor scavenger hunt, 30 exciting outdoor finds, and even a list of descriptive prompts for a “find something that is…” style hunt. With so many options, you can mix and match ideas to create endless scavenger hunts that fit your kids’ ages, interests, and energy levels.
In this article, you will find:
- Indoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas
- Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas
- A “Find Something That Is…” Scavenger Hunt That Can Be Used Anywhere
- Pre-made Printable Scavenger Hunts Full of These Ideas
The Ultimate List of Ideas for a Kids Scavenger Hunt | Indoor, Outdoor, and Sensory Options
If you’d rather not make your own, we’ve got you covered! You can grab these ready to print scavenger hunts in our Etsy shop, designed to be quick, easy, and ready to use. Whether you’re planning a rainy-day activity, a backyard adventure, or a boredom buster for the weekend, these scavenger hunts are a simple way to spark curiosity, encourage movement, and make fun family memories.
80 Creative Items to Add to an Indoor Scavenger for Kids
- Red marker
- String or piece of yarn
- Bouncy ball
- House keys
- Comb
- Pair of sunglasses
- Candle
- Spoon
- Pair of socks with stripes
- Paperclip
- Sticky note
- Measuring cup
- Photo frame
- Deck of cards (or any card game)
- Hairbrush
- TV remote
- Book with blue cover
- Piece of mail
- Coffee mug
- Pen with cap
- Shoelace
- Coin from another country (or an old coin)
- Kitchen sponge
- Puzzle piece
- Stuffed animal
- Magazine
- Pair of headphones
- Watch
- Refrigerator magnet
- Bookmark
- Note with writing on it
- Scarf
- Rubber band
- Piece of jewelry
- Chapstick or lip balm
- Flashlight
- Cereal box
- Phone charger
- Roll of tape
- Teabag
- Grocery list
- Salt shaker
- Candle lighter
- Hair tie
- Notebook
- Spatula
- Coin worth 25 cents
- Board game piece
- Photo of an animal
- Pen that clicks
- Pair of winter gloves
- Movie DVD or Blu-ray
- Small bowl
- Battery
- Nail clippers
- Paper napkin
- Winter hat
- Clean dish towel
- Sock with holes in it
- Craft supply (like beads or glitter)
- Plastic bag
- Band-aid
- Birthday card or a handwritten note
- Small pillow
- Spice jar
- Plastic cup
- Sticker
- Tissue box
- Toy car
- Candle
- Mirror
- Whisk
- Cupcake liner
- Rubber gloves
- Seashell
- Business card
- Nail file
- Measuring tape
- Roll of wrapping paper
- Calendar
30 Simple Items to Add to an Outdoor Scavenger for Kids
- Long stick
- Leaf shaped like heart
- Bug
- Smooth rock
- Flower
- Pinecone
- Feather
- Blade of grass longer than your finger
- Small twig
- Dandelion
- Piece of litter (pick up safely)
- Puddle
- Tree taller than a house
- Bird feather
- Weed growing in crack
- Cloud shaped like animal
- Leaf bigger than your hand
- Acorn or nut
- Animal track or footprint
- Spider web
- Piece of tree bark
- Clover (3-leaf or 4-leaf)
- Bird chirping
- Ant hill
- Shadow
- Worm or slug
- Berry (on a bush or plant)
- Small animal
- Fallen petal
- Flying insect
30 Descriptive Words for A “Find Something That Is…” Scavenger Hunt
- Soft
- Hard
- Round
- Square
- Smooth
- Rough
- Shiny
- Dull
- Heavy
- Light
- Small
- Large
- Colorful
- Plain
- Cold
- Warm
- Wet
- Dry
- Fuzzy
- Slippery
- Sticky
- Flat
- Pointy
- Curved
- Noisy
- Quiet
- Smelly
- Sweet
- Bright
- Dark
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Final Thoughts On This List At Home Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Scavenger hunts are such a simple yet powerful way to spark curiosity, get kids moving, and make everyday moments more exciting. With over 100 ideas to choose from—indoors, outdoors, and even “find something that is…” prompts—you’ll never run out of ways to keep the fun going. Whether you create your own list from the ideas above or grab our ready-to-use printable scavenger hunts from our Etsy shop, you’ll have everything you need to turn any day into an adventure your kids will love.
Kayla is the content creator over at motviationformom.com. She is a wife and mother who loves to share all of the tips, tricks, and life lessons that she has learned over the years with all of her readers. Her primary focus is on children’s education, motherhood, and healthy family relationships!