I’m back with another free printable scavenger hunt for little ones! This one is specifically to take along to keep little ones busy at the beach with lots of items to find featuring bright, cute images to capture their attention. This is a great activity that ages 1-3 years will particularly enjoy as little ones this age feel a real sense of accomplishment as they are able to find each item themselves. You can give them little clues to help them along as they search for each item.
Of course, toddlers lose attention quickly, so don’t feel you need to complete the whole page in one go! Just do a few items and then do a few more another day – let their level of interest guide you here.
This scavenger hunt page for toddlers features easy-to-find items designed for ages 1-3 years. There are 12 items for little ones to hunt for with a checkbox beside each:
- a seashell
- a boat
- a beachball
- a seagull
- a smooth pebble
- a floatie
- a bucket
- flip flops
- a beach towel
- driftwood
- a sandcastle
- a hat
Tips for Using this Page with Toddlers
Ages 1-3 years usually do best with a point-and-find activity rather than the traditional ‘collect the objects’ hunt. Read out each item and let your little one look at the pictures so they know exactly what they’re hunting for. Then help your child find each item by leading them to an area where they might find the item and giving them little clues to help them locate it.
Turn it Into a Talking Game
You can offer simple prompts to help your child find the item:
- ‘What color is it?’
- ‘Is it big or is it little?’
- ‘How many can you see?’
- ‘Can you find something green?’
These prompts will help to add vocabulary, aid in observation skills and counting skills.
Remember, it’s ok not to finish!
Little ones may start the game and naturally be taken off in a different direction by their own interest, perhaps in watching an ant, finding a stick to play with or jumping into puddles. You can always check off a few items and then save the rest for another day if gently guiding them back to the activity isn’t working.
Holiday Fun Scavenger Hunting
This page is great to take along on your summer holidays to keep little ones busy!
Safety First!
‘Look and Point’ is best for this activity, rather than actually collecting each item, especially for very young children. And of course, you probably wouldn’t be collecting a sandcastle to bring home anyway!
What Kids Can Learn with this Activity
- Identifying objects
- Learning new vocabulary to match the summer season
- Matching pictures with real objects
- Noticing colors and shapes
- Counting
- Taking turns looking for objects together, especially if doing with siblings or friends
