Six Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids Sheltering at Home

Six Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids Sheltering at Home

|| 5 MIN READ

scavenger hunt ideas for kids sheltering at homeThe weather is heating up and schools all over are closing for the rest of the year. The question now on so many hardworking parents’ minds now becomes, “What am I going to do with the kids all day every day?”

Without distancing learning work to keep them busy, it’s time to get creative with activities, and we at Xtrema want to help!

Here are 6 scavenger hunt ideas for kids sheltering at home that are guaranteed to get them moving and keep them entertained.

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Everyone has been itching to get outside, and with spring in full swing, there’s no better time to do an outdoor scavenger hunt.

Make a list of items the kids can find in whatever outdoor area is accessible to you. From a certain type of butterfly to a specific flower, or maybe some monkey bars, the sky is the limit — and also a potential clue! You can even add silly elements to this one such as “monkey walk over to a set of monkey bars” or “flap your wings to find the closest bird”.Have fun with it!

2. Color-Themed Scavenger Hunt

Kids love to play I Spy, so most of them already have a tendency to hunt for items based on color. Level up that traditional game by creating a scavenger hunt that is color focused.

You can even go a step further with this one by bringing along sheets of construction paper that match the colors they will be searching for so they can attach the items they find that match each color!

For example, the kids might find grass or leaves, and stick tit o the green sheet of paper, or a few dandelions and daisies to the yellow one.

3. Neighborhood Social Distancing Scavenger Hunt

Neighborhood scavenger hunts have been a big hit in cities during social distancing. Send a message out to all of your neighbors and decide what kind of item everyone who wants to participate can strategically hide or place in the same spot.

Some neighborhoods chose to put teddy bears of all shapes and sizes somewhere in one of their windows for kids to find on walks. Then when your family takes a stroll around the neighborhood, the kids can try to spot the bears in the windows.

You can also do balloons and have people hang one somewhere in front of their house for the kids to find and take with them!

4. Scavenger Hunt in the Home

For those rainy days, nothing beats a scavenger hunt inside. At home scavenger hunts are always the most fun when you take some time to get creative with clues, riddles or short poems to describe the next item the kids need to find.

You can even keep them super simple like, “I am something that opens in the mornings and closes at night” for a set of blinds or “you can see through me” for a window. Leave each clue for the next item attached to the one they just found, and let the games begin!

5. Insect Hunt

scavenger hunt ideas for kids sheltering at home

If you have a bug-loving little one, this is the scavenger hunt for your family!

You can make an insect hunt even more educational if you print out a sheet of paper or bring a book that has photos and names of different kinds of bugs that are common in your area, from butterflies to ladybugs, and even the friendly but funky smelling stink bug.

Just be sure not to follow the same rules as the Color Themed Hunt and leave the little guys in their natural environments where you found them. Try taking a picture instead.

6. Favorite Things Scavenger Hunt

A Favorite Things Hunt is a fun way to connect with all of your family members and learn fun facts about one another. Give everyone participating their own piece of paper with the same items to find.

Keep it vague and focused on either yourself or something else in your family such as “something Mom loves to eat” or “my favorite toy” and “something that smells good.”

Come together at the end for show and tell, and you might be surprised by some of the items. Who knew everyone thought Mom loved blueberries!

Enjoy these scavenger hunt ideas for kids, and get outside as much as you can!

about the author

Holly Bergstrom

Holly Bergstrom

Holly Bergstrom is the Brand Engagement Manager at Xtrema Cookware, and she oversees the creative direction of the company! Holly is passionate about minimizing toxic exposure and living a healthy and vibrant life form the inside out. Holly enjoys cooking, educating, and creating healthy meals for her friends and family. She desires to help every home and kitchen relearn how to slow down, be present, and cook with intention and simplicity. You can follow Holly on @livefreeandveg.

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