Sometimes the best toys aren’t toys at all. They’re office supplies.

If you have a pad of Post-it notes and ten minutes (or an hour) to kill, you have everything you need for Post-It Note Hide and Seek. It’s cheap, low-prep, and surprisingly scalable for different ages.

Here is the official breakdown of the levels, as illustrated in our guide.

Level 1: Basic Neon Hunt (Toddlers)

The Goal: Find the sticky notes. How to Play:

  1. Stick 5-10 brightly colored notes on furniture, doors, and walls at toddler eye level.
  2. Make them obvious (no hiding behind things yet).
  3. Shout “GO!”
  4. Celebrate every discovery like they just found the lost city of Atlantis. Pro Tip: This is great for gross motor skills—lots of squatting, reaching, and toddling.

Level 2: Color Match Challenge (Preschoolers)

The Goal: Cognitive matching + hunting. How to Play:

  1. Use two different colors of notes (e.g., Blue and Pink).
  2. Stick a “Base” note of each color on two different chairs or walls.
  3. Hide the rest of the notes around the room.
  4. The child has to find a note and run it back to the matching “Base.” The Educational Angle: “Blue goes on Blue!” It turns a fetch quest into a sorting game.

Level 3: Secret Code (Stealth Education)

The Goal: Learning numbers or letters without realizing it. How to Play:

  1. Write a sequence on the notes (1-2-3-4-5 or A-B-C-D-E).
  2. Hide them.
  3. The child must find them and stick them on a wall in the correct order. Variation: Write the letters of their name and have them spell it out on the wall.

Level 4: Extreme Mode (Older Kids)

The Goal: Parkour and verticality. How to Play:

  1. Place notes in hard-to-reach places: high up on lamps, under tables, or on the ceiling (if you can reach).
  2. Add “Floor is Lava” rules: they have to move between notes without touching the carpet.
  3. Time them: “Can you find all 10 in under 60 seconds?” Warning: Ensure your lamps are sturdy.

Why We Love It

  • Zero Cleanup: It’s just paper.
  • Cheap: A pack of generic sticky notes costs less than a latte.
  • Adaptable: You can play this in a hotel room, a waiting room, or your living room on a rainy Tuesday.

Grab a pad, pick a level, and let the hunt begin.

Download FunDad on the App Store for more instant game ideas using everyday items like Post-it notes.

FunDad.app - No Prep. Just Play.