Enjoy the month of October by doing Halloween-themed games, including this really fun Halloween Scavenger Hunt just for kids.
Halloween is such a fun day for kids; between planning this year’s costume and daydreaming about all the candy, it’s no wonder it’s a favorite for kids!
Fortunately, Halloween doesn’t have to be celebrated on just one day out of the year. The entire month of October can be used for some Halloween fun.
Related: Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Printable Halloween Coloring Pages
Family Friendly Movies to Watch this October
A favorite in my house is doing themed scavenger hunts. So for this Halloween, I’ve created a special Fun Halloween Scavenger Hunt just for kids.
What is a Scavenger Hunt?
A scavenger hunt is a really fun game where individuals or groups are given clues to find specific items. Typically whoever collects or finds all the items and returns first, wins.
But, when you’re doing a scavenger hunt for kids, rules like those don’t really apply. My kids are 11 and under so I typically keep it pretty simple with a list of items and pictures, that they can search for and then cross off their list.
My oldest isn’t interested in doing it this way, but he does enjoy helping his little brother out.
I’ve added a few different variations to this Halloween scavenger hunt below so that your older kids can have fun with this as well.
It’s so nice when siblings can all do something together and actually have fun while they’re doing it. It’s pretty rare in my house, so I’ll take what I can get!
I love these types of activities because it gets my kids outdoors and exploring, which is a really important part of their development.
What are the Benefits of Outdoor Play for Kids?
Getting the kids outside for their scavenger hunt is also a great way to get in some exercise and some vitamin D. Outdoor play is so important for kids and with all the technology they have available, it can sometimes be hard to get them motivated to play outside.
A fun activity like a scavenger hunt is a foolproof way to get kids outside enjoying themselves.
What are the Social Benefits of Outdoor Play?
If you’re able to, invite some friends over and go as a group so the kids can do the scavenger hunt together. Working in groups will teach them how to work together as a team and solve conflicts together.
What are the Cognitive benefits of an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt?
Beyond just being fun, scavenger hunts are really good for kids’ brain development. Looking for specific items in a large outdoor setting works all of their senses and can help build up their attention span among other things.
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How to Plan a Halloween Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Planning your Halloween Scavenger Hunt will be easy – all you need to do is print out the scavenger hunt (you can do that at the bottom of the page) and take a walk around the neighborhood with the kids.
(This can definitely be done indoors as well.)
If you’re looking to invite some friends over to join you on this fun scavenger hunt, there are some festive supplies you can grab to make the event more exciting.
Halloween pencils – Kids love character-themed anything! Grab some Halloween-themed pencils for the kids to use for crossing items off the list.
Glow Sticks – If you’re planning to go on your scavenger hunt after dark, glow sticks will help the kids be seen by drivers. Plus, kids love them because they are colorful!
Simple Variations of the Traditional Scavenger Hunt for Older Kids
If you have older kids who want to participate, you can change things up a bit to make it more exciting for them.
- Give each of the older kids a copy of the scavenger hunt and have them take selfies with the item on their cell phones. (If they don’t have a phone this modern-day polaroid-ish camera is tons of fun. (I know that’s not a real word, but it’s the easiest way to describe it!)
- Separate them into small groups and then give them a time limit to find everything – whoever gets back first with photos of all the items is the winner.
- Use scavenger hunt clues instead of providing them with the list.
- Write the clues out for each item using invisible ink.
Enjoy your Scavenger Hunt
Now that you have everything it’s time to gather the kids and go explore what Halloween decorations your neighborhood has to offer!
How many items can you check off the list?
Have fun and don’t forget to share this post if you think it is something your friends and family would enjoy!
P.S. If you’re looking for another fun activity to do with your kids take a peek at this Halloween Tin Can Jack-o-Lantern Tutorial. It’s pretty simple to make and super cute!
And don’t forget to check out my Printable Halloween Coloring Pages designed especially for little kids…nothing too spooky that will scare the little ones.
P.P.S Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean the Fall fun has ended! Make sure to check out my Fall Bucket List which also includes a Fall Scavenger Hunt! Looking for some more family fun this October? See the list of the best family-friendly movies to watch this Halloween season.
To download & print your Scavenger Hunt, just click on the picture.
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