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Thinking playMaking and imagining

Draw a Treasure Map Hunt

One player draws a simple map with a hidden 'treasure' for others to find by following it.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home doing Draw a Treasure Map Hunt.
  • Age5 to 8 years
  • Time15 to 30 minutes
  • EnergyModerate
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors or out
  • PrepNone

A drawing-and-finding game where one player hides a small object and draws a simple map of the room or home showing where it is, and the others follow the map to find it. Practises linking a drawn map to real places.

How to do it

  1. One player hides a small object somewhere findable while the others wait out of sight.
  2. The hider draws a simple map of the room or home, marking landmarks like the sofa or door and an X where the object is.
  3. Hand the map to the seekers.
  4. Seekers study the map and use the landmarks to work out where the X is, then go and search that spot.
  5. When the object is found, swap roles so the finder hides and draws the next map.

What you need

  • Paper
  • Crayons
  • Small object

Make it yours

Younger, 5 years: Draw the room together and let the child mark just the X near one big landmark. Older, 7-8 years: Add more landmarks, a set path with arrows, or simple written clues along the way. Group or siblings: One draws while several seek, or each makes a map for the others to solve.

Try this with your child.

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