Fun DIY Valentines Day Scavenger Hunt
Grab our free printable Valentine’s scavenger hunt that is perfect for both younger kids and older kids because there’s two different versions of difficulty levels! It’s so much fun for them to find their gifts!
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A Valentines day scavenger hunt is a great way and a fun surprise for kids when it comes to them opening their gifts. This is a great activity for kids of all ages as they take off on a home treasure hunt decoding each secret message and clue.
Everyone loves a fun scavenger hunt, so we also have a spring hunt ( a great addition to the bug and insect one), fall hunt, camping scavenger hunt, and three different versions for Christmas. You can also snag the 4th of July treasure hunt, and Thanksgiving one. Little hunters will have the best time exploring!
Another fun Valentine’s day activity is our bingo game and handprint art that is the perfect way to celebrate this year!
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This digital file is an instant download that you will receive via download link after subscribing. Our printables are for personal use only, classroom use is okay. No physical product will be shipped. The free printables can be found at the bottom of this post.
🌟What’s Included
- Detailed Instructions
- Locations of where to hide the clue cards
- Answer key for decoding
📌How Does the Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt Work?
There are a couple of different ways to stage the hunt.
Part 1: Kids will solve 10 riddles to uncover the next clue’s location. At each stop, they’ll use a decoder to figure out the “code word” and record it on their answer sheet.
Part 2: Once all the code words are collected, kids will use the numbers below specific letters on the clue cards to crack the final hiding spot.
Simply print, cut, and hide the clues to get started! Fold each clue to keep it hidden and make the hunt more challenging—it’s all part of the fun! The harder the clues are to find, the longer the adventure lasts and the more excitement the kids will have. If you hide them in plain sight, they might finish the activity in less than 10 minutes.
If you have small kids and don’t want to use the secret code for the last clue, that’s fine too! Just end the hunt with clue 10 and skip the part where they would write in on the answer sheet.
🎯Favorite Printable Supplies
Here are some of our favorite materials and supplies we use so we get the best quality out of our printables!
👇Playing in Groups
If you’re planning for a larger group of kids, try hiding multiple clue cards at each location so one team doesn’t spoil it for the others. For bigger groups, I like to stagger the start times and track who finishes the hunt the fastest. If you skip staggering, the team in the lead might accidentally give away the answers as they move from clue to clue.
Valentine Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Prizes & Gifts
You can add a special treat in each of the hiding spots, or have one large item hiding with the last clue. Here are some ideas and don’t forget to check Dollar Tree for cheap gifts.
Valentine’s Day Treats
- Heart-shaped chocolates (individually wrapped for easy hiding).
- Mini boxes of conversation hearts.
- Valentine-themed lollipops (think heart shapes or red/pink swirl).
- Chocolate Kisses (scatter a handful at each spot).
- Small bags of gummy hearts or other Valentine candies.
- Mini cupcakes or cookies decorated with pink and red sprinkles (use covered containers).
- Red licorice sticks tied with a cute ribbon.
Small Toys and Trinkets
- Valentine-themed pencils or erasers (think hearts, Cupids, or cute sayings).
- Mini stuffed animals, like small teddy bears holding hearts.
- Stickers—heart-themed, glitter, or Valentine’s Day characters.
- Bouncy balls in red, pink, or heart designs.
- Mini bubble wands with Valentine ribbons tied around them.
- Heart-shaped rings or bracelets for a festive wearable prize.
- Temporary tattoos with love-themed sayings or designs.
- Mini notepads with Valentine’s Day covers.
Craft Supplies and DIY Fun
- Valentine coloring pages (rolled up and tied with a ribbon).
- Red, pink, or glittery markers or gel pens.
- Small containers of Play-Doh in red, pink, or white.
- Bead kits for creating heart-themed jewelry.
- DIY Valentine card supplies, like blank cards, stickers, and markers.
Special Notes and Coupons
- Love notes or personalized “You’re awesome!” messages for each kid.
- “Coupon cards” for special rewards like an extra 15 minutes of screen time, a movie night, or choosing dinner.
- Jokes or riddles—include Valentine-themed puns like “You make my heart bounce!” with a small treat.
Other Fun Surprises
Red and pink scrunchies or hair accessories for a wearable prize.
Mini glow sticks or heart-shaped glow necklaces.
Slime jars in Valentine colors (red, pink, glitter).
Small candles (for older kids/teens) with a cute “You light up my day” note.
Mini bath bombs shaped like hearts for a self-care treat.
Keychains with heart or love-themed charms.
Gift cards for teens, like $5 to their favorite coffee shop, ice cream place, or store.
💡Helpful Tips
- For the highest quality feel use heavy card stock. You can also just use regular copy paper as well.
- Check ink levels before starting for the best print quality. No printer? Local print shops can help, and they are usually reasonably priced or you can check an online print shop.
- If you need another size other than US Letter, check your printer settings. Some like to adjust these to legal size paper so it covers more of the kid’s table.
Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope that this fun activity and cute clues brings extra joy to all of the littles! They are going to have such a great time!
✅Grab the Free Printable Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
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