If you have children and sometimes struggle for entertaining ways to keep them busy, consider scavenger hunts. They are a fun activity that works with kids of all ages. You can make scavenger hunts simple for younger children, ore more difficult for older kids, and can have the hunt be spontaneous or meticulously planned.
Older kids may enjoy a puzzle element to the hunt. If you give them hints, and they have to guess what to look for, this can make the hunt more challenging.
The first choice to make is to determine where to hold your hunt. The location of the hunt determines what you can hunt for. The best type of hunt is a nature hunt. Have children look for nature elements, and hold the hunt in your backyard or park. You don't want kids picking up garbage or wandering away from your supervision to go on the hunt.
Start off a nature hunt with a short lesson on nature for the children. Remind them that it is important to be protective of nature, and ask that they only take items that were already on the ground. There are many possible items to have them hunt for. Examples of appropriate items are:
Small insects like ladybugs or ants (but avoid stinging insects or larger insects or animals of any type). Rocks of specific shape, size, or color. Leaves of a specific type, or of a specified shape or color. Flowers of a specific color. Pinecones. Small pebbles. Anything of a specific color of shape (e.g.,"'something yellow," or "something round").
Theme hunts are also very fun and engaging for children. And they don't have to be expensive; often, a quick trip to the dollar store will provide everything you need.
Get creative with themes, you are not limited only to the general category of 'scavenger hunt.' Any kind of safe, fun hunting is possible - a treasure hunt, where kids look for golden-foil-wrapped chocolate coins is a popular option, as is a secret mission hunt where children have to search for clues to find their eventual goal item.
You can even expand the hunt to include items found in the homes of neighbors, if you know the neighbors well and the kids are old enough. Kids might hunt for items such as a cinnamon stick, or a penny from a specified year. Make it fun, challenging but not impossible, and not costly. Regardless of your chosen theme, you can figure that a scavenger hunt will entertain most kids for at least an hour, probably more.
Older kids may enjoy a puzzle element to the hunt. If you give them hints, and they have to guess what to look for, this can make the hunt more challenging.
The first choice to make is to determine where to hold your hunt. The location of the hunt determines what you can hunt for. The best type of hunt is a nature hunt. Have children look for nature elements, and hold the hunt in your backyard or park. You don't want kids picking up garbage or wandering away from your supervision to go on the hunt.
Start off a nature hunt with a short lesson on nature for the children. Remind them that it is important to be protective of nature, and ask that they only take items that were already on the ground. There are many possible items to have them hunt for. Examples of appropriate items are:
Small insects like ladybugs or ants (but avoid stinging insects or larger insects or animals of any type). Rocks of specific shape, size, or color. Leaves of a specific type, or of a specified shape or color. Flowers of a specific color. Pinecones. Small pebbles. Anything of a specific color of shape (e.g.,"'something yellow," or "something round").
Theme hunts are also very fun and engaging for children. And they don't have to be expensive; often, a quick trip to the dollar store will provide everything you need.
Get creative with themes, you are not limited only to the general category of 'scavenger hunt.' Any kind of safe, fun hunting is possible - a treasure hunt, where kids look for golden-foil-wrapped chocolate coins is a popular option, as is a secret mission hunt where children have to search for clues to find their eventual goal item.
You can even expand the hunt to include items found in the homes of neighbors, if you know the neighbors well and the kids are old enough. Kids might hunt for items such as a cinnamon stick, or a penny from a specified year. Make it fun, challenging but not impossible, and not costly. Regardless of your chosen theme, you can figure that a scavenger hunt will entertain most kids for at least an hour, probably more.
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