Question about scavenger hunt for 5 y/o's

[verde]

I'll be co-hosting a BD party for two 5y/o's. I'm thinking about doing a scavenger hunt. I see a lot of suggestions about dividing into teams and giving prizes to the winner. I have mixed feelings about this -- no doubt because as a kid I never, ever won anything.

So I wonder about anyone else's experience. Do 5 y/o's do OK with winners and losers? Is it better to somehow have everyone win? I'm having a hard time with the idea of losers at a BD party. But maybe that's just me.

[verde]

No one has any thoughts?

[limabean]

I'm planning to do a scavenger hunt for my DS's birthday in a couple months, but it'll be cooperative and all the kids will get prizes.

I'm just going to give the kids a written clue (something like, "I keep food cold" if I want them to look near the refrigerator) and they'll have to figure out where to look, and there'll be another clue in that spot, followed by another, etc. until they find the treasure in the last spot. The treasure will be 6 small treasure chests (1 for each kid) filled with loot.

[MommaKitten21]

I think most 5 y/o's can do ok with understanding between winners, and losers... however, I still believe 5 y/o's would be much happier if everyone wins...especially given it's at a birthday party!

I love the idea of the individual treasure chests.

[verde]

Thanks for your thoughts. I like the idea of a treasure hunt too. The other mom and I settled on a scavenger hunt because I have a big backyard with lots of trees and we thought we do a nature theme: bring 4 different shaped leaves, get a stick as tall as you, find something red.

I like the cooperative idea. I agree that 5 y/o's would be happier if everyone wins.

[LaughingHyena]

I've never done prizes at parties and the kids have never seemed bothered.

For the scavenger hunts, finding little things to fit in the compartments of egg boxes always seems to go down well, also the individual things like a leaf bigger than your hand/foot, stick longer than your arm etc are good.

Another collecting idea (good for those who finish early) is a nature bracelet. Wrap a piece of sticky tape, sticky side out round the child's wrist and get them to stick small items to it.

[childsplay]

We do them every year for our kid's birthdays. At the end there's loot for everyone in a large treasure chest back in the woods. We've been doing seashells, small smooth beach stones (you can buy them at craft stores) and gems (craft store).
Last party they all decorated small wooden treasure chests which they filled with their loot after the hunt.

I only put candy at the end of the hunt once and it ended in bloodshed, so, lesson learned, no candy. (we save the candy for the pinata which my DH supervises)

But ya, I'd definately have prizes, but for everyone, not just the first ones finished. (you could even have brown paper bags with each child's name on it)

[verde]

Great ideas! Thanks so much