The magic of literature is at work here, and this magic is real! Now, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and many other classic novels are not at all like you remember them.
Something wicked is going on in the worlds of well-known books – their plots are changing, with the main characters being defeated while the villains prevail. Solving the case will give them such a feeling of satisfaction that you might just find them creating their own mysteries to solve.Join the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in his unbelievable new investigations! Depending on their age, kids may need the occasional hint every now and then, but that’s all part of the fun. The more ridiculous the clues, the better. The ‘Detective’ game is great for burning energy and working your kid’s brain and imagination. The flavor can change but the basic game stays the same. And yet another could be pirate-themed with a map highlighting different landmarks around the house.
Another version could include a series of boxes, each with a different key inside. One time you can hide pieces of a note, ripped up like a puzzle, which when compiled can lead to something else. The best part of ‘Detective,’ however, is that it can be different every round. Obviously, for more exhausted children by the end of the game ⏤ hide more clues. The length of your goose chase is entirely dependent on how many clues you hide but will be filled with giggles no matter how many (or few) there are. They end up in the cupboard where, after taking a break to eat cereal, uncover a rubber ball.
The crayon leads them to the pencil case where they keep their crayons, which, low and behold, is now full of Cheerios. The paper takes them to the toilet paper roll in the bathroom, which has a crayon in it. The fork, of course, points them in the direction of the cutlery drawer, which has toilet paper in it. This discovery leads your kids to the LEGO box, which has a fork in it. Buttons has gone missing, where could he have gone? What’s this? A LEGO block?” And so the game begins by picking up your first clue, the block. With clues hidden and the kids eager to reveal who killed Professor Plum, you start the story: “Oh no, Mr. Also, don’t hide them somewhere where they’ll be discovered by mistake. Obviously, again, the clues must daisy-chain until the final one reveals the location of the hidden treasure.
Ideally, you’ll have prepared these ahead of time, but if they’re pre-occupied building a block tower or something, it’s easy to come up with a handful of clues on the fly and scatter them about the house. Now, with the kids in another room and the door closed, select and hide the clues. If you want to throw a bad guy into the premise, by all means, do so ⏤ more storytelling is always good. It could be a favorite toy, stuffed animal, or even a piece of candy your kids can devour in the end as a reward for solving the case. Start with the premise of your mystery: Something is missing or has been stolen.