My oldest son’s birthday was in December. For his party, I had six 10 and 11 year old boys to entertain, and my mom (who was a kindergarten teacher for 38 years) suggested this website, riddleme.net, to create a treasure hunt and keep them entertained.

She heard about it from a friend. I didn’t see this turning out well.

Though I was sure this program going to be lame, and I objected to paying $19.95 for a downloadable program that looked REALLY CHEESY, I agreed to give it a try.

I’m super glad I did... Riddle Me turned out to be a really cool idea. (Okay mama, I admit I was wrong.)

When I was little, my cousin Bonnie and I used to create treasure hunts like these for one another, but this program makes it so much easier.

To create a customized hunt, you go through the inventory and check off items you have in your own home and in your yard, like microwave, shampoo, coat closet, woodpile, basketball hoop, silverware drawer, mailbox, etc.

Then you tell the program the average age of the children you’re making the hunt for and the number of clues you’d like to have in the hunt. You also get to decide whether you want the hunt to be conducted inside, outside, or both.

Hit ‘create hunt’ and the program makes up all the clues for you. For younger kids, the clues are pretty straight forward. For older ones, the clues are riddles that take more time to decipher, or puzzles like word scrambles.

If you have a specific order you’d like the hunt to go in, you have an option to change whatever you’d like, or even to make up your own clues and locations to replace those that are suggested.

When you’re satisfied with the hunt, you can print out the clues, which are easy to cut out and hide in the specified locations. The program lets you know where to hide what, so you don’t get confused (which is the hardest part of making a treasure hunt. Trust me, I know from experience how uncool it is to be told to look in the toilet, and not find any clue there a despite a smelly and desperate hunt in the bowl, tank, etc.)

For Gage’s party, I made a 20 object hunt that had the kids running inside and outside. They had an absolute ball looking for the objects, and even asked for a second hunt when they were done eating cake.

I also used this program to make a treasure hunt over the two week holiday break when I felt like if I didn’t get my kids out of the house RIGHT AWAY, they would instead be stuffed in a closet where I didn’t have to deal with them for a while.

In addition to treasure hunts, I believe the program can create scavenger hunts and object hunts, which look like they’d be a lot of fun in the summer. I haven’t checked them out yet.

So, if you are looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend, try Riddle Me. It really is awesome. Here's the link to the website. Seriously, ignore how cheesy it looks. It doesn't do the program justice.

Of course, the only thing my family will be hunting for this weekend is our dog, Scout, who is still lost. :(

Wish us luck!