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Create a Toy Scavenger Hunt
As of today, here in Wisconsin Governor Evers has declared that all non-essential businesses must close to limit the spread of COVID-19. For many of us that means even fewer options to entertain kids already getting a little sir-crazy after being at home for a week. And with so many families on reduced income, we need to make our resources stretch a littler further.
With that in mind, Heather, our early learning manager, put together a Brain Builders activity that you can do with absolutely NO extra supplies.
All you need is a pen/crayon/marker/eyeliner-pencil-you-don’t-like or any other writing implement, a piece of paper (the back of a target receipt will do), and a small selection of the toys your kid already has (how about the ones you already stepped over today?).
Heather previewed this activity for us with her cat, Gigi, but you can adapt it with the toys and skill-level of your human kids.
How To Assemble A Toy Scavenger Hunt
- Grab 5-10 small toys and make a list of them.
- Hide them around the room (around the house for older children),
- Watch as they delight in finding their toys in unusual places
- Match the toy with the list and make a check or an X when you’ve found the items.
Why is this a Brain Builder?
This simple game supports many facets of development, and you can tailor it to the developmental stage of your child. You might try counting how many toys have been found and how many are left to find working on number sense. Matching the toy with the list and making a mark promotes literacy. Children might have to cope with frustration, or may feel very proud when they’ve found a toy, contributing to emotional development. Children use observational skills and communication (both verbal and non-verbal) when working with you or with siblings.
Like this activity? Follow us online for more Brain Builders and other content designed by our education team experts for families during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place crisis.
