Name Scavenger Hunt Game

It is so cold lately. Too cold to play outside for long periods of time. We love crafts, reading and board games, but my three little kids need to move their bodies! Gross motor development is a crucial component to a child’s learning, mental health and physical development. I created our Name Scavenger Hunt Game to get my kids moving and working on name recognition too!

WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE NAME SCAVENGER HUNT GAME

colored Post-its
cardboard rectangles ( 1 per child)
marker

CREATE PROPS FOR THE NAME SCAVENGER HUNT GAME

Prior to introducing the Name Scavenger Hunt to your children create a large name card for each child (we used recycled pieces of cardboard) and write the letters of each child’s name on Post-It Notes. If possible I recommend choosing a different color for each child to avoid confusion and arguments over whose letters belong to whom.

Next I “hid” the letters all over the house. All the letters were in plain sight. Sometimes in funny places like on their stuffed animals or up high so they would have to reach high or figure out how to get to the Post-Its. I invited my children over and said that we were going on a Name Scavenger Hunt. They were so excited! I handed them each their name cards and we named the letters in each of their names. Then I said “Ready Set, Go find your names!” And they were off!

TIME TO HAVE A NAME SCAVENGER HUNT GAME!

After days of being cooped up inside due to freezing temperatures, racing around the house with a purpose was so great for my children’s emotional well-being. They were giggling and helping each other. This activity was the perfect combination of literacy and gross motor development. When my children found their letters we lined them up on the ground using our name boards as an aid.

After we lined up the letters in the names we explored their names. We pointed to each letter and named the letters, counted the number of letters in each person’s names and cheered for each child. Hip, hip, hooray!

Next I had the children stand up and we explored their names with body movements. We jumped for each letter in our names, we clapped our names and waved our hands above our heads. And then? Well, then we played again and again and again for 1 hour! My son said “Mama, this is the best game you ever created!” And that is the best present I could ever receive!
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