1 min read
Ages3 to 8 years
Setup1 min
SupervisionLight supervision
What you need
- Nothing — a walk and six agreed categories
- A phone for photos (optional)
The purpose of this is not really the hunt. It is that a child who is looking for something walks considerably further than a child who is being walked.
How to set it up
- Before you leave, agree six things to find. Say them out loud rather than writing them — it takes thirty seconds and needs no printer.
- Make them categories, not exact objects: something rough, something that makes a sound, a leaf bigger than your hand, something red, a curved thing, something that was once alive.
- Count them off on fingers as they are found.
Why categories beat lists
A list of specific items fails as soon as one is not there, and it turns into a search for the missing thing. Open categories can always be satisfied by something, which keeps the walk moving and lets the child argue their case — which is half the fun.
Practical notes
Agree in advance what may be picked up and what stays where it is. Wash hands afterwards, and be clear that nothing goes in mouths.
Extending it
Take a photo of each find and look at them together at home. Let the child set the six categories for you next time — they are usually far harder.
More outdoor ideas in Busy Kids, Bright Minds.