Halloween Painters Tape Scavenger Hunt: A Spooky-Fun Activity That Works All Year!

Looking for a quick, engaging Halloween activity that gets kids moving and learning? This simple painters tape scavenger hunt has been a follower favorite on Instagram - and for good reason! As a mom and former teacher, I love how it combines spooky fun with learning while requiring minimal prep. Even better? Once you master the Halloween version, you can adapt it for any holiday or learning theme throughout the year. My 9-year-old still requests this activity!

Why Kids (and Parents!) love this Halloween Scavenger Hunt

• Gets kids moving and engaged in active play while indoors

• Uses simple materials you probably have at home and takes just minutes to set up and clean up

• Perfect for Halloween parties or rainy October days

• Adaptable for different ages, holidays, and skills

What You'll Need

• Two different colors of painters tape 

• Permanent marker

• Wall space for your "matching board"

• Space around your house to hide items

Instructions

1. Create Your Matching Board

   • Choose a space on your wall that your child can reach.

   • Place a long strip of one color tape horizontally (this is your "matching board").

   • Draw your themed items along the matching board, spaced about 2-3 inches apart.

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2. Make Your Hidden Pieces

   • Using the second color of tape, draw the same items that are on your matching board.

   • Tear or cut the items into separate pieces of tape.

   • Hide these pieces around your designated play area

3. How to Play

   • Show your child the wall board

   • Explain that they need to find matching pieces around the house

   • When they find a piece, they match it to the corresponding item on the wall

   • Continue until all matches are found

Extended Play Ideas

1. Time Challenges

   • Use a timer for added excitement

   • Race against previous times

   • Take turns hiding pieces

2. Multiple Players

   • Assign different items to different players

   • Create team challenges

   • Hide multiple sets in different colors

3. Learning Extensions

   • Create stories about found items

   • Draw pictures of hiding spots

   • Make a map of hidden locations

Why This Activity Works

As both a mom and former educator, I love how this activity naturally incorporates multiple learning styles:

• Visual learning through pictures and matching

• Kinesthetic learning through movement

• Auditory learning through item naming

• Spatial awareness through hiding and finding

• Problem-solving through search strategies

Remember, the beauty of this activity is its flexibility. You can adapt it to any theme, learning objective, or age group. It's a perfect way to combine learning with movement and fun!