It’s time to explore nighttime in our Playful Preschool Series. It’s getting darker earlier in the evening on these Fall days so it’s a perfect time to explore the night with young preschoolers. So, lets head out for a nighttime alphabet treasure hunt!
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Treasure Hunt For Kids
Why We Chose This Activity
It’s not often that we travel outside in the evening. Recently we were coming home from Grandma’s house in the evening and my boys were mesmerized by all the lights and reflective signs. It was big aha for me. I need to let my boys explore their world at night!
Preschoolers are also discovering the world of letters so we combined the two explorations into one fun activity!
Preparing for the Treasure Hunt
Each participant will need a flashlight, treasure hunt map, clipboard and metallic crayons.
I used florescent paper (I used a piece of poster board and cut it into 4 pieces.) and metallic crayons to create the “treasure map”. Attach the map to a clipboard and have another metallic crayon ready for the hunt. You can tie the crayon to the clipboard to avoid lost crayons in the dark!
You will also need to have some alphabet cookies and milk ready to go when you return from the hunt. We really like the alphabet cookies from Trader Joes. Earth’s Best and Newman’s Own also have alphabet cookies. Or you could make your own with this recipe for alphabet cookies from Do It Yourself Divas. These alphabet cookie cutters can be used to make your own cookies and for lots of future uses!
Going on the Treasure Hunt
Head outside when it gets dark. Tell everyone that they are going on an alphabet treasure hunt. Using their flashlights they will search and find all the letters of the alphabet. As a letter is found, it’s circled on their map.
If you are a classroom teacher, you could head to a dark gym or another room with shades. Hide letters throughout the room for the kids to find with their flashlights.
When all of the letters have been found it means that the treasure has been unlocked. Head home for a after-the-hunt snack of alphabet cookies and milk. While eating you can also enjoy a wonderful bedtime story!
Keep reading. We have so many more great ideas for explore the nighttime theme from the Playful Preschool team!
For MORE Playful Preschool Nighttime Activities:
Nighttime Sky Sensory Bin at Life Over C’s
Night Owl Painting and Books at The Educators’ Spin On It
Lovely idea. Little Man would love this! Thanks for sharing at the Outdoor Play Party 🙂
What an absolutely wonderful idea! As we’ve got Winter fast approaching, I can’t wait to do this with The Boy.
Nipping over from the Outdoor Play Party
Fantastic idea – I know both mine would love this. We could do sight words for the older one.
This looks like such fun!
I LOVE this idea!! My son’s an early riser, so he also goes to bed rather early. I KNOW he would get so much out of exploring outside at night more. Thanks for the kick in the pants to do just that. 🙂
Have fun with it Mary Catherine. My boys wake up when it is still dark too. An early morning hunt is a great idea!
What a great night alphabet discovery hunt! I had not seen the metallic crayons before…where have I been?:) Nice post, Jodie!
This would make a great adventure activity for my boys! We d have to wrap up warm though as it s getting chilly now over here in the evenings! #supermommyclub
I love the florescent paper! What a unique element to add to a learning activity!
Kim, it really helped with seeing the letters on our hunt.
I love your idea of doing an alphabet scavenger hunt in the dark. It really adds an element of excitement to the search for letters. We will have to try this. Thanks for the inspiration.
Have fun. It’s a great family activity.
Oh! I so want to do this activity with my son.
I LOVE this! It’s on our to-do list for this week!
This looks like SO MUCH FUN! My kids (and me) will love it! Thanks for the great idea!
I hope you enjoy the hunt!
This is AWESOME. My kids would think this is awesome. We may even have to build a fort in the living room and try it in the middle of the day!
I think that would be perfect!