Treasure Hunt Clues for Kids Who Cannot Read Yet: Picture Clues That Work

A child who cannot read yet can still solve a treasure hunt entirely on their own. They just need the clue in a language they already speak, which is pictures. A three or four year old who is handed a photo of the bathtub knows exactly where to go, and gets there before you have finished saying "what do you think it is?"

Here are the kinds of picture clues that work for pre-readers, how to make them quickly, and how to run the hunt so that the children do the finding and the adults mostly stay out of the way.

Why pictures beat reading aloud

You could write rhymes and read them out. Many parents do. The trouble is that the adult then holds the game: the children wait, listen, and are told where to go. With a picture, the child holds the card, works it out, and leads. For a small child that difference is the whole point.

Six kinds of picture clues

1. A photo of the spot. The simplest and the clearest. Take a photo of the couch, the fridge, the front door. Print it and that is the clue.

2. A close-up. For children who find a plain photo too easy, photograph just a part: the tap of the bath, the handle of the fridge, the pattern on a cushion. They have to work out what it belongs to. This is a real puzzle for a four year old.

3. A photo of a toy at the spot. Put their favorite stuffed animal on the bed, on the stairs, in the bath, and photograph it there. "Where is Bunny now?" gives the hunt a little story with no words at all.

4. A simple drawing. A rectangle with a pillow is a bed. A box with a round window is a washing machine. Use a thick marker and one object per card. Do not worry about your drawing; small children read simple shapes better than detailed ones.

5. An object in an envelope. A sock sends them to the sock drawer. A spoon sends them to the cutlery drawer. A leaf sends them to the tree in the yard. Real objects are a favorite with the youngest, because they get to carry something.

6. Color and shape matching. Stick a red circle on the clue card and the same red circle on the hiding spot. This works for children as young as two and a half, and is a good way to include a little sibling.

Mix two or three kinds in one hunt so it does not feel the same at every stop.

Making the cards in ten minutes

  1. Decide on six spots and walk the route.
  2. Take a photo of each spot on your phone, from the height of the child. A fridge photographed from adult height looks different from the fridge a three year old knows.
  3. Put the photos on one page, six to a sheet, and print. No printer? Draw them, or show each photo on your phone as you go.
  4. Cut them out and number the backs in pencil.
  5. Put a sticker of the same kind on every card, so the children can tell a real clue from any other piece of paper in the house.

Hiding spots for pre-readers

Use big, obvious, everyday places they could name themselves. And leave the card where it can be seen once they are standing there.

Avoid anything inside a closed cupboard, anything above their waist, and any two spots that look alike. Two different bookshelves is one too many.

How many clues, how long

Four to six clues, and about ten minutes. That may seem short. For a three year old it is a full adventure, and they will want to do it again straight away. Let them. Hide the same cards in the same places and they will be just as happy the second time, often happier because they now know the game.

Running it

Show one card at a time. Hold it at their eye level and ask, "Where is this?" Then wait. Count to ten in your head before helping.

Let them carry the card. They will compare it with the real thing when they arrive, which is exactly the thinking you want.

One finder per stop. In a group, say whose turn it is before showing the card. The others can help look, but the finder picks it up.

Celebrate every stop. For small children each card found is a win in itself. A cheer, a sticker on a chart, or a stamp on the hand keeps the mood up to the end.

Keep the treasure simple. A box with a sticker and a snack for each child. Opening the lid is the big moment, so let the birthday child do it.

Mixed groups: readers and non-readers together

If older siblings or cousins are joining, add a short rhyme under each picture. The reader reads it out, the little one matches the picture, and they go together. Give the older child the title of "reader" and the younger one the title of "finder," so each has a job the other cannot do. As children start to recognize words, you can move to the read-together clues in a treasure hunt for a 6 year old.

Picture cards without the drawing

If you would like illustrated cards made for you, this is what the Explorer level at X Marks The Party is for. You tell it your hiding spots, and each card shows a full picture of the next spot along with a two-line rhyme for an adult or an older child to read. The picture does the work, so a child who cannot read can still lead the way. The hunts are designed for ages 4 to 10.

For the youngest hunters, Under the Sea with Ollie the octopus and Dinosaur Expedition with Rex are friendly places to start. See a free preview of the picture cards with your child's name on them.

FAQ

From what age can children do a picture hunt?

Around three, with four to six photo clues. Younger than that, use color matching and stay beside them.

Should I add words to the pictures?

A single word under the picture ("bed") does no harm and lets a curious child start connecting the two. Do not rely on it.

What if they run to the wrong place?

Go with them, hold the card up next to what they found, and ask, "Is it the same?" They usually spot the difference themselves.

Does it work for a party of preschoolers?

Yes, with up to six children and two adults. The step-by-step for a group is in a treasure hunt for a 5 year old.

Create a personalized hunt. Free preview, then print at home for $29.99.

See the Under the Sea Birthday Treasure Hunt.

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