PROCEDURE:

1. You can go around your home or sit in a chair and look around you for hiding places. These are the places where you put the clues.

2. Use little stick 'em papers for your clues so you can place them anywhere around your hiding place.

3. When placing the clue have just a little corner showing, for example, if the paper is sticking to the wall behind a book.

4. The clues should lead the kids to the next hiding place.

5. Lead the kids on a merry chase around the house, except in the room you'll be working.

6. At the end of their excursion, the kids will find prizes. These don't have to be expensive.

   There are many benefits to the Treasure Hunt.

   • It will keep the kids busy at something they enjoy. They have fun while anticipating the prizes at the end.

   • It is also an unexpected outlet for your creative writing skills. When you write the clues, you have to be clever and still write at your child's level.

   • The clues will make your child think and work out problems with the evidence at hand. She won't mind doing this because of the prize at the end of the trail.

   • If you need a break from writing, or have writer's block, why not watch these kids figure out the clues! What they come up with will seem from an alien culture. You might be able to latch on to some ideas for a short story.