Crafts and Activities

Indoor Photo Scavenger Hunt

Coming up with fun ways to keep your kids entertained while you’re stuck inside is the best way to keep them off their screens. And when I’m looking for a way for my kids to have fun on a rainy day, there’s nothing better than a scavenger hunt. Instead of printing out a traditional scavenger hunt to entertain your kids the next time they’re stuck indoors, try doing an indoor photo scavenger hunt instead. This fun game is perfect for keeping your kids occupied on a hot summer day.

Indoor Photo Scavenger Hunt

Supplies Needed:

Printable scavenger hunt sheet
Camera or cell phone

How to Play:

Print out the scavenger hunt sheet and give it to your kids.
Ask your child to use a camera or cell phone to take pictures of the things around the house that represent each of the words on the list.
Place a check mark next to the item after it is found.

How Do You Do an Indoor Scavenger Hunt?

Creating an indoor scavenger hunt is as easy as setting up a hunt outdoors. Since each of the items on the printable list are open-ended, your kids shouldn’t have an issue finding something to match everything on the printable. The printable indoor scavenger hunt for kids includes 16 clues:

Noisy
Bumpy
Squishy
Delicious
Garbage
New
Beautiful
Loved
Light
Old
Precious
Build
Sock
Piece
Writing
Button

As your children search around the house to find matches for each item, they’ll need to think about different things that could match the descriptive words. If you think your kids might have a hard time coming up with something to take a photo of, it might be a good idea to come up with some suggestions for them. Or set out items that match the words in plain sight so they can be found more easily as your kids are searching.When your child finds an item that matches the word, they can take a picture of the item and place a check mark in the box next to it. After the scavenger hunt is over, you can sit down with your kids and look at all the photos they’ve taken. Let them explain why they chose the item in each photo and how it matches the word on the list.

As your kids play this fun game, you’ll notice that they get to practice a variety of skills. Scavenger hunts are a great way for your kids to hone their:

Creative thinking skills. The open-ended clues on this printable scavenger hunt are perfect for encouraging your kids to think creatively. And if you have more than one kid doing the hunt at the same time, you’ll get to compare their answers to see how creative each child can get. It’s fun to see the different perspectives each player has on the clues provided to them.
Observation skills. Since this scavenger hunt will take place in the house, it’s likely that your kids are pretty familiar with their surroundings. That allows them to use their observation skills to match items they know are in their home to the clues on the list. Before the scavenger hunt starts, let your kids look over the list and come up with some ideas for each picture. This will allow them to think critically about each clue and give them time to come up with a create picture idea for each item on the list.
Photography skills. Taking pictures isn’t just a fun way to play the game, it’s also a great skill for your child to learn. From making sure the item they want to photograph is in the frame to figuring out which buttons to press, there are several aspects of picture taking your kids will need to learn. These basic skills can help them develop their photography as they grow, which may even lead to a new creative hobby down the road.

Tips for a Fun Indoor Photo Scavenger Hunt

This simple game can be played just about any time and without much prep work. But to help the game run more smoothly, try some of these simple scavenger hunt tips:

Laminate the sheets. With the help of a laminator, you can use your scavenger hunt worksheets over and over again. Run the printable sheets through the laminator, then let your kids use dry erase markers to check the boxes as they find each item. If you don’t have a laminator, try using plastic sheet protectors to hold the worksheets instead. Your kids can check the boxes using dry erase markers on the plastic page protector instead of on the paper itself.
Use child-friendly cameras. If you’re not comfortable letting your child use your phone or camera to take photos, consider investing in a child-friendly camera. These kid-safe cameras typically feature a hard case that’s durable enough to withstand drops without breaking.

Grab your free printable indoor photo scavenger hunt checklist. Just enter your email below.

Check out some of our other fun family scavenger hunts:

Summer Bucket List for Families

By Sharla Kostelyk

Ever since my kids were little, we’ve done a summer bucket list. I find that it’s a great way to keep me accountable to being in the moment and it gives the kids something to look forward to.

In the past, some of the lists we’ve completed include the Summer Bucket List for Moms Who Want to Engage and the Bucket List for a Simpler Summer.

For this summer, I’ve decided to focus on things for the family. This is meant to improve family connection and time together, not add to the stress, so do this in whatever order you want and feel free to change or omit activities that don’t fit in with your family’s needs.

I chose activities that were low cost or free and don’t take a lot to set up. I want this to help you enjoy time with your family, not become another must-do list. This is meant only as a tool for family connection.

Summer Bucket List Ideas:

Go berry picking.
Eat watermelon.
Practise cotton ball throw painting.
Paint with freezies.
Tent in the backyard (or living room).
Build tin can stilts.
Make lemonade oobleck.
Fly paper airplanes.
Make an ocean sensory bag.
Make homemade popsicles.
Run through long grass.
Play in rainbow soap foam.
Press seashells in playdough.
Pull some butterfly slime.
Have a three-legged race.
Explore in a summer sensory bin.
Participate in a library reading program.
Squish a mermaid sensory ball.
Build sandcastles.
Dig up worms.
Get messy with melting ice cream playdough.
Draw with sidewalk chalk.
Pretend play with lemonade sensory soup.
Have a sack race.
Hula hoop.
Skip rocks.
Have a water fight with sponges.
Have a picnic.
Play with bubbles.
Run through the sprinkler.

Download your free Summer Bucket List and print it off today. Simply enter your email below.

Fluffy Fish Slime

By Sharla Kostelyk

Pretend you’re playing underwater with this fluffy fish slime. The consistency of this fluffy slime lends itself well to imaginary play and the fish add another adorable element.Slime is pretty popular in our house and fluffy slime is the favourite. Everyone loves the texture that the shaving cream gives to it. Plus, it’s got that really nice stretch to it.

Fluffy Fish Slime Recipe:

Supplies needed:

⅔ cup white Elmer’s School Glue
1 1/2 Tbsp. contact solution containing boric acid and sodium borate
¼ cup water
½ tsp. baking soda
3 cups foaming shaving cream
10 drops neon blue food colouring
mixing bowl
mixing spoon
fish toys
baby oil (optional)

Directions:

Pour the glue into a large mixing bowl.
Add in the water and mix well with a spoon (we find that a wooden spoon works well).
Drop in the baking soda. Mix.
Spoon in the shaving cream. Fold into the mixture and mix.
Add the blue food colouring drops. Stir well until the slime is blue all over.
Slowly add in the contact solution and stir.
Continue to stir to get a fluffy slime consistency.
Finish by kneading the slime with your hands. The slime is going to feel sticky at first. But don’t give up. Keep kneading! If you like, you can use a small amount of baby oil on your hands to keep the slime from sticking to you.
After kneading for several minutes, the slime should be nice and fluffy!
Add the fish toys and fold them into the slime.

Adult supervision should be used with this and all other sensory play activities.

This engages the visual, proprioceptive, and tactile sensory systems, making it a great sensory play idea. You can find more easy ideas in our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Be sure to check out some of our other fluffy slime recipes. These ones are our favourites:

Unicorn Fluffy Slime

Edible Shark Fluffy Slime

Heart Fluffy Slime

Simple Bugs Fun Hand Soap for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

By now, we all know how important hand washing is for our health. But getting your kids to wash their hands often is sometimes easier said than done. Instead of constantly reminding your kids to wash their hands, why not make handwashing fun? This fun bugs hand soap for kids will keep your kids engaged as they wash, ensuring they never forget to wash their hands again.If your kids are struggling with some of the pandemic protocols such as wearing masks and frequent hand washing, this fun soap can make it a bit easier for them (and for you).

Bugs Hand Soap for Kids

Supplies needed:

clear container with push dispenser
clear liquid hand soap
plastic bugs
small blue and white beads

Instructions:

Fill the clear container with hand soap, leaving around one inch of space at the top of the bottle to make room for the bugs and beads.
Push the bugs into the bottle, then add the beads to the top.
Place the lid on the bottle and tighten it to keep the soap from leaking out. Turn the bottle upside down to mix up the beads and bugs inside.

Handwashing Tips

Placing this fun soap for kids near the bathroom sink is a great way to remind your kids to wash their hands more frequently. They’ll have a blast squirting bug soap on their hands!

And since we know how important having clean hands is to our health, it’s always a good idea to remind your kids about proper hand washing techniques. After you make your bugs soap, give your kids a quick lesson in hand washing so they wash their hands the right way every time:

Follow five simple steps. Start by teaching your kids the five steps, then demonstrate the best method for getting their hands clean. There are five basic steps for handwashing:

Wet
Lather
Scrub
Rinse
Dry

Wash for 20 seconds. They key to killing germs is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. One fun way to count down the time while scrubbing is to sing a song. Singing Happy Birthday twice is a simple tune your kids are sure to know. Or you can make up your own hand washing song.

Scrub everywhere. Another important lesson to teach your kids is to scrub all over as they wash, including between each finger, along the top and bottom of the hand, and under the fingernails.

When should kids wash their hands? After learning how to wash their hands, your kids may be wondering when they should take the time to use their bug soap. The best answer is simply whenever their hands feel dirty. But if they’re still unsure, remind your kids that it’s always important to wash their hands:

after using the bathroom
before and after eating
after touching a pet
after coughing, sneezing, or wiping their nose

You might also like these fun bug sensory activities:

Easy Easter Slime Recipe

By Sharla Kostelyk

Slime is fun to play with regardless of the occasion. Pull, stretch, knead, push, and play using this easy Easter slime recipe. This provides great sensory feedback while having fun.

Homemade slime is great for any occasion. In the video below, you’ll see just how easy it is to make this slime at home.

Easy Easter Slime Recipe:

Supplies Needed:

1 cup Elmer’s Clear School glue
2-3 Tbsp. contact lens saline solution
1/2 tsp. baking soda
purple/pink, blue, and green metallic mini beads
Easter bunny erasers

Instructions:

Pour the glue into a large mixing bowl and stir the baking soda into it.
Begin to add the contact lens solution a few drops at a time as you stir.
When the mixture begins to pull away from the bowl, begin kneading.
Add the beads. Continue kneading.
Fold in some of the bunny erasers or offer them to your child to add to their sensory play.
If the slime is still too sticky, add one or two drops more of contact solution and continue to knead.
When you’re not playing with it, store it in an airtight container.

Be sure to use adult supervision with this or any other sensory play activity.

The slime created with this recipe is nice and stretchy. This activity offers tactile, proprioceptive, and visual sensory feedback.

Easter Slime Gift:

If you want, you can make this slime recipe as a gift. It’s great for adding to an Easter egg hunt or Easter basket. All you need to do is put the slime inside a medium or large size plastic egg and close it.

Check out some of our other Easter sensory activities:

Easter Egg Hunt Sensory Bin

By Sharla Kostelyk

Sensory bins are perfect for interactive play. And when you add in seasonal elements, they’re a fun way to celebrate a holiday with your little ones too. This adorable Easter egg hunt sensory bin is filled with unique ways for your kids to explore using an Easter theme, whether they’re learning at home or in the classroom.

yellow on one side, purple on the other with sparkly eggs and a fluffy chick. Text reads "Easter Egg Hunt Sensory Bin" Using common Easter themed items in your sensory bin is the perfect way to get your kids playing and learning by using their senses. Each item on the bin is designed to help your child learn as they play by engaging at least one of their senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Easter Egg Hunt Sensory Bin:

Supplies needed:

Instructions:

Spread the yellow and purple Pluffle in the bottom of the bin, placing one colour on each side.
Place the letters in the bin. You can use the letters to spell out words (like Easter Egg Hunt) or simply let your kids play with the letters and spell words on their own. Kids love to spell out their own names and familiar words.
Spread the sequin eggs and baby chick toys around inside the bin.
Place the magnifying glass on top of the items for the kids to use.

collage of photos of a yellow and purple Easter sensory bin

Easter Sensory Bin Activities

Once you have your sensory bin set up, your kids can explore each item inside the bin as they play. These sensory bin activities are fun ways to encourage your kids to explore:

Use the magnifying glass. Move the magnifying glass over each element in the sensory bin and explore the different colours and textures up close. Compare the fluffy chick’s feathers to the smooth letters to see how they are different.
Touch the different items in the bin. Use your fingers to touch each item in the bin and describe what each one feels like. Which items in the bin are soft? Which are hard?
Squish the Pluffle. Use your hands, a spoon, or a scoop to move the Pluffle around. Squish the Pluffle in your hands or combine the colours to see what happens.
Sort or spell with the letters. Put the letters in alphabetical order, sort them by colour, or spell Easter words with them inside the sensory bin.
Play hide and seek. Hide the eggs or chicks under the Pluffle and dig around in the bin to find them. Or play a game with a friend or sibling by hiding items inside the bin and asking someone else to find the hidden treasures.

Check out our other Easter sensory ideas: