February Activities At Home

Category Treasure Hunt

How to Play

Instructions

• Choose a category (e.g., "things that are red," "kitchen items," "animals," etc.).

• Set a timer for 3–5 minutes

• Have the child search around the house to find items that fit the chosen category.

• For each item they bring back, ask them to:

  1. Name the item.

  2. Explain why it fits the category.

• At the end of the treasure hunt, review all the items collected by using them to create a funny story. 

• Use phrases like, "You found ___. Tell me more about it!" to encourage longer sentences.

Alter the rules to fit your kiddo!

Ways to increase the challenge

• Add Descriptions: Ask the child to describe each item in detail using adjectives (e.g., "This apple is red, round, and shiny.").

• Ask Follow-Up Questions: Encourage critical thinking by asking, "Where would you find this?" or "What else is like this?"

• Create a Story: Have the child illustrate the funny story created. 

Ways to decrease the challenge

• Preselect Items: Place a few items from the chosen category in one room and let the child find them.

• Use Visuals: Show pictures of items in the category to guide their search.

• Limit Choices: Focus on a specific subset of the category (e.g., only red fruits or only animals that live on a farm).