When my nephew Jake turned 6 last year, I noticed how much he loved playing detective games around the house. With Father’s Day approaching, I wanted to create something special that would not only celebrate my brother-in-law Mark but also give Jake an activity they could enjoy together. We’ve had so much success with summer scavenger hunts in the past, so I decided to adapt the concept for Father’s Day.

Let me tell you, the results were even better than I expected. Jake was absolutely THRILLED to lead his dad on this little adventure around their home, and Mark couldn’t stop texting me pictures of their father-son bonding time. It’s become such a hit that they’ve asked me to create a new version for this year’s celebration!

Why a Father’s Day Scavenger Hunt Works So Well

Have you ever noticed how kids light up when they’re in charge of an activity? That’s exactly what makes this scavenger hunt so special. Instead of just handing Dad a gift, your little one becomes the “hunt master”, guiding their father to discover little treasures and moments throughout the house. It’s also a wonderful complement to our popular All About My Dad printable if you’re looking for multiple ways to celebrate Dad this year.

In my experience, these kinds of interactive activities create memories that last way longer than any store-bought gift. Plus, it’s super budget-friendly and can be adapted for kids of any age!

What You’ll Need for Your Hunt

Creating this hunt is surprisingly simple. Here’s what I gathered:

• Cardstock or regular printer paper
• Colored markers or crayons (for any personal touches)
• Small treats or gifts to hide (optional)
• A willing dad and excited kiddo!

The Hunt Items That Were a Total Hit

For my nephew’s scavenger hunt, I included 8 items that are quintessentially “Dad” and easy to find around most homes:

1. A necktie (Jake found his dad’s favorite blue one)
2. A “#1 Dad” coffee mug (which was actually a gift from the previous year!)
3. A drawing made by Jake (he was so proud to show off his artwork)
4. The BBQ grill (this led them to the backyard)
5. A football (their favorite thing to toss around on weekends)
6. A tool like a hammer or wrench (from Mark’s precious toolbox)
7. A heart note with “I Love Dad” (which I helped Jake write in secret, similar to how children express themselves in our All About Me printable for kids – kids love sharing their feelings through writing!)
8. A wrapped gift box (containing Mark’s actual Father’s Day present)

What made this work so well was how each item sparked a little conversation or memory between them. When they found the drawing, for example, Mark spent time telling Jake how he keeps every single drawing in a special folder at work. 🙂

How to Set Up Your Own Hunt

Setting up this hunt couldn’t be simpler:

First, I created a colorful worksheet with pictures of all the items they needed to find. The visual element is super important for younger kids who might not be strong readers yet.

Then, I explained to Jake how the game worked: Dad would need help finding all these special items around the house, and Jake would be his guide. I told him it was like a treasure hunt, but the real treasure was spending time with his dad.

Finally, I gave Jake the worksheet on Father’s Day morning and watched as he excitedly woke Mark up, worksheet in hand, ready for their adventure to begin!

What Happened During Their Hunt (The Sweetest Part!)

The hunt took them all around the house, from the bedroom closet (for the tie) to Mark’s home office (for the mug and drawings) and eventually outside to the grill. What I didn’t expect was how Mark would turn each discovered item into a mini bonding moment.

When they found the football, they stopped the hunt for a quick 10-minute catch session in the backyard. When they located Mark’s favorite wrench, he took the time to show Jake how it worked and let him help tighten a loose cabinet handle they’d been meaning to fix.

By the time they got to the wrapped gift (a new fishing lure set they could use together), the gift itself seemed almost secondary to the fun they’d already had finding it.

Why This Works for Different Ages

If your child is younger, like my nephew was, keep the hunt simple with obvious locations and lots of picture clues. For older kids, you can make the clues more challenging or even turn them into riddles.

Jake is 7 now, and for this year’s hunt, I’m creating clue cards that will lead from one item to the next, making it more of a connected journey rather than a simple checklist.

Tips I Learned From Our Experience

After watching Jake and Mark’s hunt unfold, I have a few suggestions if you want to try this yourself:

• Take photos throughout the hunt! Mark’s wife Sarah captured the whole thing, and those pictures are priceless
• Don’t rush it – the best parts happened when they slowed down and just enjoyed each discovery
• Include at least one sentimental item (the heart note was actually what made Mark get a little misty-eyed!)
• End with something they can do together for the rest of the day (the fishing gear was perfect for them)

The Unexpected Benefits

What surprised me most about this simple activity was how it changed their Father’s Day routine. Instead of the typical “here’s your gift, now what do we do?” scenario, they spent the entire morning engaged in this hunt, talking, laughing, and connecting.

Mark later told me it was the best Father’s Day he’d ever had, not because of any gift but because of the uninterrupted time with his son. And Jake? Well, he’s been asking when they can do another hunt ever since!

Ready to Create Your Own Father’s Day Hunt?

I’ve included my template below that you can print and use with your own little ones. It’s designed to be colorful and engaging for kids while being straightforward enough that they can lead the hunt themselves.

Remember, the magic isn’t in having the perfect items or the most elaborate clues—it’s in creating a framework for dad and child to spend meaningful time together on a day that should celebrate that relationship.

Have you ever created a scavenger hunt for a special occasion? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

Happy hunting!

Click here to download

If you enjoyed this Father’s Day scavenger hunt idea, you might also want to check out our summer-themed scavenger hunts for more outdoor fun, or complement this activity with our All About My Dad printable for a complete Father’s Day celebration package. These activities have been tested and loved by my nephew and many other children who’ve used our kid-friendly printables!

P.S. If you found this idea useful, please save and share it on Pinterest so other families can enjoy this activity too!