The combination of winter weather and having the kids home from school unexpectedly can be quite challenging for a parent who is looking for fun activities inside. Perhaps the kids are tired of playing outside or the snow ended up being sleet or slush. Maybe the snowman has already been made, snow angels surround the yard, and the children are tired of sledding. A scavenger hunt can provide a unique and entertaining indoor activity to help break the monotony and get the kids away from the television or computerized games and into some family interaction.
Scavenger Hunt is Engaging and Unique Activity for Snow Days
Few kids will turn down the opportunity for playing a scavenger hunt game. Anyone can create a scavenger hunt with just a little bit of imagination. Fortunately, this type of game is typically low budget and requires very few supplies.
Think of several items in the house that the kids would easily recognize. Ten items work well, but any number of items will work. Create a series of numbered clues on pieces of paper. These clues might be very simple such as writing the name of each item for children who are learning to read or might be a bit more challenging by writing a short clue in which the kids have to guess where the next clue is located. Creating clues that will rhyme will encourage the children to think about rhyming words before finding the next clue.
Hide clue #2 at the answer for clue #1; hide clue #3 at the answer for clue #2, etc. Place a prize or make a certificate of congratulations at the location for the final clue. Set the ground rules first – this may be particularly important if you have several kids of different ages. For example, you may require all of them to stay together or assign alternating children to search first in the area that they have all determined may be the location of the next clue. You may set parameters for where the clues may be located, such as only inside or only upstairs.
Give clue #1 to the kids and be available to give hints if necessary.
Fun Variations for Scavenger Hunts
For those who want to go digital with a scavenger hunt, simply take pictures of items around the house. To make it more challenging, take a picture of a small portion of an object and alternate between rooms. Scroll to the beginning of the pictures, and either show the kids the pictures or hand over the camera and see if they can find all of the items. Give them a time limit to make this scavenger hunt more challenging or have one child hold the camera and describe the object, but he or she cannot tell the others the name of the object or room in which it is located.
A scavenger hunt can be played over and over with different clues or by hiding the clues in slightly different locations with the same clues. For example, if the clue leads the kids to shoes, you might simply place the clue on top of the shoes or may make it more challenging by taping the clue on the sole or inside of a shoe the next time.
Those with several kids may encourage the older ones to create a scavenger hunt for the younger ones after playing the first game. If you find that the kids are finding all the clues in five minutes, make it harder next time. Hide the clues in less obvious spots, translate the clues into another language, or have an activity station to complete at each clue. For example, the kids may play a board game at clue #1, make a handmade valentine at clue #2, dance to a song at clue #3, practice math flash cards at clue #4, etc.
Scavenger Hunt is Educational and Interactive Game for Snow Days
Snow days can be challenging for kids and parents. Having a wide variety of unique, unusual, and engaging indoor activities can help everyone to enjoy a snow day together. A scavenger hunt can be an exciting and educational activity full of fun for snow days and other times when the kids are home unexpectedly from school. This inexpensive idea can fit any budget and may be simple or elaborate, and can encourage the kids to think outside of the box or to work as a team. A group of parents may wish to share ideas to provide additional scavenger hunt clues in a short amount of time.
Readers may also wish to read:
Fun Outdoor Activities for Snow Days
Fun Variations for Making a Snow Man
How to Make a Green Snowman With Supplies Around the House
How to Draw a Simple Six-sided Snowflake
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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