BUDGET scavenger hunt ideas

[dislal]

DH and I finally broke down and bought the kids a Wii for Christmas after two years of them begging for it. So we have decided to give it to them from us and we want to make them wait until all of santa's presents are opened and we would like to make them work together on some kind of scavenger hunt to find it. They are going to be so excited, because I truely believe they aren't expecting it this year either, even though each one of them asks for it just about every day. Does any one have any suggestions?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Have you got stuff around the house that is similar, but not too much, in name to some Wii software? Example: if there was a game called Sweet Tomatoes, you could have one of the scavenger hunt items be a can of tomatoes or a jar of sauce... then tape the next clue to the bottom of the container...

I can't help you with actual suggestions - the only thing that sounds familiar to me is the Wii Fit, and offhand I can't think of a thing that would sound similar but not obvious

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I did a scavenger hunt for my kids' Wii last year. All the way up to Christmas the kids would mention wanting one and I kept saying "guys, they're just too hard to find, none of the stores have them and if they did they would be way out of our budget" so the kids thought there was no way. Our tree was in a different room from our TV so I went ahead and hooked it up and everything the night before. Then I put a letter from Santa under the tree skirt and made a big deal of having the kids help clean up wrapping paper after everything was unwrapped and I "found" the letter. It said:

From the desk of Santa Claus: (In red fancy type)

Dear kids' names,

I see that you have all been very good this year. Iraq has Christmas day the day before you and while I was there your Daddy stopped me to talk about you. He told me that you have all been helping your Mommy so much while he has been away and the nice Sergeant asked me to pass along a gift to you.

I would like to make this a little more of a challenge for you. so this christmas morning I have a special treasure hunt. Put on your thinking caps and get ready, here we go!

In the kitchen (my favorite room) is where you ned to start. Open the cupboards and look for a clue where you would find medicine for the flu.

Good luck with your game and your Daddy sends his love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Santa Claus


Then the treasure hunt took them all over the house with silly little rhyming clues. I followed them most of the way with the video camera, but when they had to go upstairs I pulled out the games that I had wrapped (one for each of them to unwrap) and put them on the couch. When the hunt brought them back to the living room they ended up at the games, I gave them each one and they unwrapped them. DD said "Oh, Mommy, Lego Star Wars...for Wii...Mommy, we don't have a Wii...(starts looking at entertainment center)...AHHHHHHHHHH!!! WE HAVE A WII!!!


So unfortunately now DH gets all the credit for buying it but it was worth it.

 

[Donnainnj]

So sweet. Thank you and your husband and your family for your sacrifices, and Merry Christmas.
Donna

I did a scavenger hunt for my kids' Wii last year. All the way up to Christmas the kids would mention wanting one and I kept saying "guys, they're just too hard to find, none of the stores have them and if they did they would be way out of our budget" so the kids thought there was no way. Our tree was in a different room from our TV so I went ahead and hooked it up and everything the night before. Then I put a letter from Santa under the tree skirt and made a big deal of having the kids help clean up wrapping paper after everything was unwrapped and I "found" the letter. It said:

From the desk of Santa Claus: (In red fancy type)

Dear kids' names,

I see that you have all been very good this year. Iraq has Christmas day the day before you and while I was there your Daddy stopped me to talk about you. He told me that you have all been helping your Mommy so much while he has been away and the nice Sergeant asked me to pass along a gift to you.

I would like to make this a little more of a challenge for you. so this christmas morning I have a special treasure hunt. Put on your thinking caps and get ready, here we go!

In the kitchen (my favorite room) is where you ned to start. Open the cupboards and look for a clue where you would find medicine for the flu.

Good luck with your game and your Daddy sends his love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Santa Claus


Then the treasure hunt took them all over the house with silly little rhyming clues. I followed them most of the way with the video camera, but when they had to go upstairs I pulled out the games that I had wrapped (one for each of them to unwrap) and put them on the couch. When the hunt brought them back to the living room they ended up at the games, I gave them each one and they unwrapped them. DD said "Oh, Mommy, Lego Star Wars...for Wii...Mommy, we don't have a Wii...(starts looking at entertainment center)...AHHHHHHHHHH!!! WE HAVE A WII!!!


So unfortunately now DH gets all the credit for buying it but it was worth it.

 

[Donnainnj]

DH and I finally broke down and bought the kids a Wii for Christmas after two years of them begging for it. So we have decided to give it to them from us and we want to make them wait until all of santa's presents are opened and we would like to make them work together on some kind of scavenger hunt to find it. They are going to be so excited, because I truely believe they aren't expecting it this year either, even though each one of them asks for it just about every day. Does any one have any suggestions?

Could the last clue be, "What do you say when you go down a hill on Space Mountain? Go " ***** " to find out."
That's all I have right now.
Donna

 

[monorailsilver]

How about this for a scavengert hunt.

Take all the letters in Nintendo Wii & think of something.

They don't have to be in order.

Something like "My teeth are so yucky & need a good cleaning. So off I went into the ________(bathroom) to take care of them. I picked up the ___________(toothpaste) squeezed it on my _______(brush) & then looked at the tube & saw the the 2nd to last letter is the clue that I need (COLGATE)." or something like that.

Basically make them spell it out.

Things like microwave for one of the I's-a place I pop popcorn is the _______(microwave) & my clue I need is the 2nd letter in that word.

The last clue can be something like now go to the table & take a pen & paper & figure out the word of this Christmas hunt jumble. Once you have figured out the clue open this letter......

Ahhh..you figured it out are you super excited, now go look under the table to see where your Nintendo Wii is in hiding.

Good luck
OK I need to go & pick up a kid at school so this may not make sense.

 

[dislal]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[clownchk]

for My DD's Birthday we did a scavenger hunt. I could not afford an extravagant gift, and she just LOVED this. My 6 YO has requested it for her birthday next year. I taped to her bed (in this case it could be inside a small gift to open) the first clue: Oh Wow! Look at You? IS it really true? Lets go check to see if today is the day, that we got to celebrate your birthday!

Then on the calendar: Oh, yes, ITs true! SO what to do now? Go find your next clue where Mom watches the Dow

On my computer screen: OH boy, I know you must be be feeling a rush! BUt first, I need you to find your toothbrush!

On her toothbrush. YOur next clue will be handed to you in a while. RIght now, you need to make a clean smile!

After she brushed I handed her a card: Right now I know you just want to scream, but lets just go look where we keep the ice cream!

in the freezer (Which she thought was the funniest thing!): Did you do your homework? You'd better go check! Or Mom AND the teacher, will be giving you heck!

ON her backpack: Wait, go no further, I know your homework is done. But look at the TV, your clues are almost done!

On the TV screen: You are getting pretty good at this! Now lets eat some breakfast, and lets not throw fits!

On the cereal box in the cupboard: THis is your last clue, you're almost there! NOw get your cereal, then look in your chair!

Her gift was in a gift bag in her chair. SHe loved it. It was a "real" watch with minute, hour and second hands.

Just use a bot of imagination. I'm sure you can come up with something wii related, but I didn't even think to tie in clues to her actual gift when I made up ours!