Treasure hunting in nature is a great activity that encourages children to explore the environment, develop cognitive skills and physical activity. This activity will help your child learn about nature, cooperation and problem-solving skills.
You will need:
A list of treasure hunt tasks (e.g. find certain leaves, stones, flowers, take pictures of insects, etc.).
A bag or pouch for the collected items.
A magnifying glass (optional).
A pencil or crayon to mark the tasks.
Additional tip:
If your child cannot yet read, use the pictures in the list to help them understand what to find.
Directions:
Preparation: Prepare a list with the treasure hunt tasks. You can include a list of different natural objects that the child will have to find (e.g. a green leaf, a brown stone, a yellow flower, a ladybird, etc.).
Explanation: Explain to the child that he/she will have to find the objects on the list and put them in a basket or bag. You can explain that this is a treasure hunt and that each item found is a treasure.
Searching: Go with your child to a forest, park or other natural place and start searching for the items on the list. Encourage your child to observe the environment, use all his senses and experiment with the finds.
Discussion: When all the objects have been found, sit down together and discuss what you have found. You can talk about each object, its colours, shapes, smell and importance in nature.
Why is this useful?
This activity is based on the Forest School methodology, which encourages children to connect with nature and learn about the environment. Treasure hunting helps children to develop observation and exploration skills, encourages physical activity and strengthens communication and cooperation skills. Studies show that time spent in nature improves children's mood, reduces stress and promotes healthy development.
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