The 6 Best Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas For Kids
Scavenger hunts are an awesome activity for toddlers and preschoolers! They’re a fun opportunity to break out of your daily routine and keep your little one busy for an afternoon (or maybe just 15 minutes, but, hey, sometimes that’s all you need). Plus, scavenger hunts help young children develop focus, observational skills, and learn more about the world around them as they search through their environment to find each clue.
Want to plan the perfect scavenger hunt activity for your toddler? Keep reading for the best scavenger hunt ideas for little ones!
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1 | Kid-Friendly Visual Scavenger Hunt Cards
Keep your nature scavenger hunt simple! Visual “checklists” help keep scavenger hunts accessible and fun for toddlers and preschoolers. Simply download, print, (laminate if you want), and go!
Your little one can practice circling items as they find them or collect found treasures in a basket, lunch sack, or egg carton. For bigger items (um, like trees) or live animals (caw caw), you can help your toddler take a photo as a keepsake instead.
2 | Nature Hunt Egg Carton Hack
From Toddler At Play
Steal a trick from Veronika at Toddler At Play and use an egg carton to collect your child’s outdoor treasures! Fill the top row with items found in nature that you would like your little one to collect, like twigs, leaves, and grass. Then help your child find each item and place it by the matching item in the carton.
Make sure to check out the original post for more details & pics!
Image by Veronika, The Toddler At Play
3 | Nature Scavenger Hunt Sensory Card
From Rhythms of Play
Try this creative sensory twist on the traditional scavenger hunt card! Simply glue a few items you can find outdoors (like feathers, rocks, and herbs) to a sturdy piece of cardboard. You can label the board like Nell at Rhythms of Play does, or just glue and go if you’re looking for a low(er)-prep activity. This is an awesome way to incorporate more sensory play into your scavenger hunt!
Read the original post to check out the DIY sensory board tutorial!
Image by Nell Regan, Rhythms of Play
4 | Simple Scavenger Hunt Paper Bag Trick
From I Can Teach My Child
I love this simple idea from Jenae at I Can Teach My Child! Just attach your scavenger hunt list – you can create one at home in a minute or two, or you can use a printable you like – to a paper lunch sack. Using this paper bag trick, your toddler can easily gather all their found treasures together and keep track of the scavenger hunt checklist too!
You can check out the full post from I Can Teach My Child here to learn more!
Image by Jenae, I Can Teach My Child
5 | Super-Easy Color Scavenger Hunt
From I Heart Crafty Things
This low-prep color scavenger hunt from Rachel at I Heart Crafty Things is perfect for little ones! You can easily make this simple scavenger hunt bag in less than a minute with just a paper bag and a few markers. Your child will have fun exploring the outdoors, looking for all kinds of colorful treasures from nature. On a rainy day, you could even try this activity indoors for a fun (and cozy) twist!
Click here to check out the original post from I Heart Crafty Things!
Image by Rachel, I Heart Crafty Things
6 | Nature Color Hunt & Sorting Activity
From Sophie’s Nursery
Here’s a fun idea from Lauren over at Sophie’s Nursery: Bring child-friendly color cards outdoors with you and your little one on a nature walk. (You can find get free printable color cards here or use free paint chips from your local home supply store.) Then, try to find items in nature that match each color. Once you’ve found a match for each color (or your toddler is over it – whichever one comes first 🙂 ) take your treasures home and sort them by color for a fun and simple math extension activity.
Find more details (and gorgeous pics) at the original post here!
Image by Lauren, Sophie’s Nursery
Now, Go Explore!
Nature hunts are such a fun way to stay active with your little one while exploring the outdoors. Have fun trying out these ideas with your toddler – and don’t forget to share your adventures in the comments below!
♥ Meg
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