Summertime can be a time for creative games you do with your kids. Summer scavenger hunts are a form of a game they can do with your help or without. You just give them directions and off they go! What is a scavenger hunt? It is a game where you prepare a list of specific items that your kids will hunt for, gather or complete. It’s up to you if there is a winner of the hunt or no winners. Just the thrill of the hunt is fun enough in most cases for kids who love this game in its many forms.
The summer weather can be pretty hot for outdoor scavenger hunts during the day but that’s the beauty of this game. It can be played inside or outside, depending on the items that you have kids searching for. Even if they can’t read a list yet, you can tell them items to find, so the littlest ones can get in on the fun too. An older child can be the leader and help the younger ones. This game will teach your kids to be more observant of their surroundings. Once they get the hang of it, older kids may enjoy creating their own scavenger hunts for their siblings and friends.
Create a Check List
A scavenger hunt can be created with a list that kids check off or bring items to you. An example would be a nature hunt. They would find different types of outdoor items such as green leaves, round rock, dried flower, etc. and bring them to you.
Take a Photo
For older kids with cell phones, pictures can be taken of what they find. If there are varying ages of kids participating, break them into teams with an older child as the photographer. Make sure everyone is given items to find so no one is left out.
Sample Clues – Find something that is:
- Blue
- Dried up
- Begins with the letter “w”
- Square
- Something you can eat
- Sparkly
- Old
- Something with a handle
- Leather
Ideas for Specific Clues to Take Pictures Of:
- Blue Car or Certain Make such as a Ford
- Tattoo on a person
- Seashell
- Pink flower
- Foreign money
- Tan lines
- Black and white photo
- Someone wearing a hat
- Statue
- Dial-up phone or flip cell phone
- Wig
- Someone in a costume
- Out of state license plate
- Someone with pierced ears
- Swimming pool with people in it
- Payphone
Link to sites with more ideas and phone apps games:
My Kids Adventures: Ten Scavenger hunts Ideas for Your Kids
Verywell Family: How to Have a Photo Scavenger Hunt for Kids
The Spruce: Scavenger or Treasure Hunts for Kids
iMom: Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids
GooseChase Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Mud Best Scavenger Hunt Apps and Ideas
As always, stay safe and have a wonderful fun summer!