A scavenger hunt gives children something to do while the turkey rests, and it takes about ten minutes to set up. Each clue tells the children where the next clue is hidden; the last one leads to a small prize. Below are 20 rhyming clues for children who read, ideas for little ones who cannot read yet, and 8 harder riddles for ages 8 to 12.
How to set up the hunt
- Write or print the clues below on small cards and number them.
- Give clue 1 to the children. Hide clue 2 in the place clue 1 describes, clue 3 in the place clue 2 describes, and so on.
- Put the prize in the place the last clue describes.
- No bathtub or no washing machine? Skip that clue and hide the next one where the skipped clue would have gone.
- Keep the oven mitt away from the oven while it is hot.
20 rhyming Thanksgiving clues and where to hide the next one
| Clue | Hide the next clue |
|---|---|
| 1. I'm cold inside and full of food. Open my door, the next clue's good! | in the fridge |
| 2. At night you rest your sleepy head. Look under me, upon the bed! | under a pillow |
| 3. Splash and bubbles, scrub-a-dub. Find the next clue in the tub! | in the bathtub |
| 4. You sit on me to watch a show. Check under my cushions, down below! | under a sofa cushion |
| 5. I'm round and orange with a stem on top. Look right beside me, that's your stop! | next to a pumpkin |
| 6. We sit at me for every meal. Look under me, the clue is real! | under the kitchen table |
| 7. You wear us out to kick the leaves. Look inside us, if you please! | in a shoe by the door |
| 8. I hold the stories that you read. Look on my shelf for the clue you need! | on a bookshelf |
| 9. I wash your socks and spin around. Look on my top, a clue is found! | on the washing machine |
| 10. Your teddy, blocks and cars live here. Look inside, the clue is near! | in the toy box |
| 11. You look through me to watch leaves fall. Check my sill, below it all! | on a windowsill |
| 12. Turn me on to wash your hands. Right beside me, the next clue stands! | next to the sink |
| 13. Friends knock on me to say hello. Look by me now, and on you go! | by the front door |
| 14. I keep you warm when cold winds blow. Check my pockets, high and low! | in a coat pocket |
| 15. Click me on when it gets dark. Look under me, that's your mark! | under a lamp |
| 16. I keep hands safe when the pie comes out. Look inside me, a clue's about! | in an oven mitt |
| 17. Beep beep! I warm your food up fast. Look on my top, this clue's not last! | on the microwave |
| 18. After your bath you dry with me. Look in my folds, what do you see? | in a towel |
| 19. Brrr! I'm colder than the fridge. Ask a grown-up, peek a smidge! | in the freezer |
| 20. The last clue! Look down low, beneath your bed. Your Thanksgiving prize is there, just like I said! | under your bed |
With all 20 clues, the prize goes under the bed. Using only the first 10? Put it in the toy box.
Picture clues for little ones who cannot read yet
Little ones of 3 to 5 can play too. Each picture card shows the place, like the pumpkin or the bookshelf, so they only need to recognize it. Read the word aloud with them, then let them run. On a busy holiday, keep their hunt to 6 or 8 places away from the kitchen and at a height they can reach without climbing.
The pictures on these cards were made with an AI image tool.
Harder clues for older kids, ages 8 to 12
Older children like riddles that make them think. Each answer is a place in the house; open the answer to see where to hide the next clue.
- I am full of recipes, but I have never tasted one.
Answer
a cookbook. Hide the next clue inside the cookbook. - Fold me, set me by each plate, and use me after every bite.
Answer
the napkins. Hide the next clue under the stack of napkins. - I have a back and four legs and a seat at the feast, but I never eat.
Answer
a dining chair. Hide the next clue under a chair at the dinner table. - I tell you how much flour to pour, then go back in the drawer.
Answer
the measuring cups. Hide the next clue inside a measuring cup. - Every guest wipes their boots on me on the way to dinner.
Answer
the doormat. Hide the next clue under the doormat. - I hold every guest's jacket until the pie is gone.
Answer
the coat closet. Hide the next clue in the coat closet. - In the morning I show a parade, in the afternoon I show football.
Answer
the TV. Hide the next clue next to the TV. - I have holes in my head, and I get passed down the table at every meal.
Answer
the salt shaker. Hide the next clue under the salt shaker.
Questions parents ask
When is the best time for the hunt?
While the turkey rests or between dinner and dessert. Children have energy to spare, and the kitchen is free for the grown-ups.
How many clues do I need?
About 8 to 10 for children under 6, and 15 to 20 for older children. Fewer, quicker clues keep little ones from getting bored.
Where should the prize go?
In the place the last clue describes. A small bag of candy corn, a fall coloring book or first pick of the pie all work.
The printable hunt
Our Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt has all 20 rhyming clues as cut-out cards, the same 20 places as picture cards for little ones, 4 blank cards for your own clues, a setup list to tick off as you hide them, and a certificate for the winners. 15 pages in US Letter and A4, no year printed. The pictures in the printable were made with an AI image tool.
Get the Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt, $3
Hosting the whole day? The Thanksgiving Family Pack has the party games, the scavenger hunt and picture games for ages 3 to 5 for $6, instead of $10 apart.
More for the day: 12 Thanksgiving games for the whole family, Thanksgiving trivia with answers and five free Thanksgiving bingo cards.
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