Scavenger Hunt Fun

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

In the August 2009 issue of Family Fun magazine, grandparents Patrica and Paul Slaga of North Carolina shared a unique idea. They have "Tricky Treasure Hunts" with their grands.

In either their house or yard, the Slagas hide several wrapped "inexpensive treasures" such as small toys, art supplies, gummy bears, stickers, etc. Their grandkids work together to solve brainteasers to locate each prize (the prizes could also be together at the end of several clues). 

The Slagas give creative clues using verses with missing rhymes, symbols or pictures taking the place of words, or numeric codes.

Here are some examples of possible clues:

Verse: "Jack and Jill went up the _________." Answer: hill. So the next clue or prize will be on whatever your grandchild will know is the "hill."

Picture: Have a picture of a refrigerator and either tape the next clue to your refrigerator door or put a small prize inside your refrigerator.

Numeric code clue: Assign each letter of the alphabet a number such as a = 1; b = 2; c = 3 ... z = 26. If your first clue is: The next clue will be by the 2 12 21 5 chair. Answer: blue. Then, the next clue will be by the blue chair.

Another idea is to send a grandchild on a magazine or newspaper scavenger hunt. Jot down some age-appropriate questions about various articles, words in headlines, photos, etc., and give them to the grands. After they find the answers to the questions, reward them with some type of wrapped prize or treat.

It would be pretty easy for us to prepare these types of scavenger hunts for out-of-town grands. We could send the clues to them in the mail with small wrapped prizes or extra money for an ice cream cone, etc.

Do you have any scavenger hunt ideas? Did you go on scavenger hunts as a child?

Have a great weekend,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

http://www.marymaywrites.com/

http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

© Ilya Genkin / Dreamstime.com

Let's Have a Scavenger Hunt

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

I love looking at the magazine Family Fun! Grandparents Patrica and Paul Slaga of North Carolina shared a great idea in the August 2009 issue. They have "Tricky Treasure Hunts" with their grands.

In either their house or yard, the Slagas hide several wrapped "inexpensive treasures" such as small toys, art supplies, gummy bears, stickers, etc. Their grandkids work together to solve brainteasers to locate each prize (the prizes could also be together at the end of several clues).

The Slagas give creative clues such as verses with missing rhymes, symbols or pictures taking the place of words, or numeric codes. Here are some examples of possible creative clues:

Verse: "Jack and Jill went up the _________." Answer: hill. So the next clue or prize will be on whatever your grandchild will know is the "hill."

Picture: Have a picture of a refrigerator and either tape the next clue to your refrigerator door or put a small prize inside your refrigerator.

Numeric code clue: Assign each letter of the alphabet a number such as a = 1; b = 2; c = 3 ... z = 26. If your first clue is: The next clue will be by the 2 12 21 5 chair. Answer: blue. Then, the next clue will be by the blue chair.

Another idea is to send a grandchild on a magazine or newspaper scavenger hunt. Jot down some age-appropriate questions about various articles, words in headlines, photos, etc., and give them to the grands. After they find the answers to the questions, reward them with some type of wrapped prize or treat.

It would be pretty easy for us to prepare these types of scavenger hunts for out-of-town grands. We could send the clues to them in the mail with small wrapped prizes or extra money for an ice cream cone, etc.

Do you have any scavenger hunt ideas ... or special memories of scavenger hunts? Please share them as a comment. Also, if you have a scavenger hunt with the grands, I'd love to hear what happens.

Have a great weekend,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Ioana Grecu | Dreamstime.com

Outdoor summer fun

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Looking for some fun things to do with the grandkids this summer? The National Wildlife Federation's website says that today's kids spend more than seven hours a day in front of electronic media, and only four to seven minutes a day outside.That's why it's asking parents and grandparents to join their Be Out There™ movement.

If you sign the Be Out There pledge, you'll receive an email with a link to download a Summer Survival Guide. It's filled with games, ideas for outdoor activities, and more.

And, while we're "out there" with the grandkids, we may want to have an outdoor scavenger hunt. The National Wildlife Federation gives an example of one on its website. They suggest that the kids collect items such as "a blade of grass longer than your finger, an acorn cap, a leaf on the ground, a pine cone, etc." Of course, you and I could design a scavenger hunt based on what's available in our unique backyards and neighborhoods.

We could also ask the older grandkids to plan an outdoor scavenger hunt for their younger brothers and sisters. And we could help our grandkids design one for their long-distance cousins—mailing clues and scavenger hunt objects to them.

What fun things have you done with your grands outside?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service