Let’s start off the first day of winter by exercising your child's observational skills through a winter scavenger hunt. A scavenger activity is an engaging way for your child to exercise their body and mind simultaneously. So, don’t forget to take this activity to your next stroll around your neighborhood, local park, or perhaps your backyard. 
 

What You will Need 

 

Engaging with Your Child 

 

Introduce the scavenger hunt by taking a moment with your child to look at each image in the table provided or one that you created yourself. Name them out loud together before going on your hunt. This will give your child the chance to become familiar with the items they are looking for. Once you are outdoors, you can ask your child “What do you see that is on our hunt today?”. Once your child finds an item on the table, encourage them to scratch it off the table by making a line through or by scribbling on the image.  If there are special observations you’ve made, note them down. Once you’ve completed your scavenger hunt you can review your sheet of paper together as a form of reflection. It is beneficial to give them the opportunity to take their time to visually attend to their environment and to use all their senses to gather information that they are seeking.   

Please note that for younger children scribbles are their first form of writing. Encourage your child to develop their pre-writing skills by allowing them to scribble on the paper. Scribbling supports children’s fine motor skills that they will need to write and draw in the future.