Here are a few lists you can use when your kids need to run off a little energy and keep entertained at the same time:
Indoor Hunts
List 1: Alphabet Hunt
Each kid needs to find something (anything!) that starts with each of the letters of the alphabet, in order. No need to bring back the item, just touch it or get near and point if you can't reach (honor system), then come back to "home base" and write it on a list (a big whiteboard or paper flipchart is great for this if you have one).
List 2: Color Hunt
Choose a color (green, red, blue, purple, whatever) and give the kids a set time to go through the house and describe every item they can see that's that color, along with the room it's in. Afterwards, go through the list and cross out every item that more than one kid spotted. The one with the highest number of unique items wins!
List 3: Letter Hunt
Choose a letter of the alphabet and give the the kids a set time to go through the house and describe every item they can see starts with that letter, along with the room it's in. Afterwards, go through the list and cross out every item that more than one kid spotted. The one with the highest number of unique items wins!
List 4: Wearables
1. Neatly folded t-shirt
2. Anything labeled size 8
3. T-shirt with words on it
4. Sock with a hole in it (does not count if you make the hole during the hunt!!)
5. Loose button
6. Earring with blue in it
7. Bike helmet
8. Baseball cap
9. Paisley necktie (long or bow)
10. Part of any kind of a uniform
11. Dress with a zipper
12. Item of clothing with a picture of an animal on it
13. A pair of something wearable
14. Item of clothing with buttons that aren't round
15. Wearable item with velcro
List 5: In the Kitchen
1. Fake food
2. Food that starts with the letter C
3. Teabag
4. Glass bottle
5. A piece of fruit
6. A can of vegetables
7. A serving platter with a picture on it
8. A fork with only two tines
9. An ingredient used in cookies
10. A holiday-themed kitchen item
11. A food item that's past its expiration date
12. Box of jello
13. An herb or spice that's considered "exotic" or unusual (judge's decision is final)
14. A food or ingredient you've never eaten
15. A food that changes color when you cook it
List 6: Fun and Games
1. Deck of cards
2. Something with a holiday theme
3. Musical instrument (must be small enough to carry)
4. Stuffed version of an animal you'd see in a zoo
5. Toy that's usually used outside
6. Action figure
7. Spinner (like used in Twister or Life)
8. Puzzle piece (must be returned to the right box!!)
9. Toy or game that makes noise
10. Toy or game that needs batteries
11. Two different sizes of batteries
12. Purple Magic Marker
13. Remote control
14. Toy with wheels
15. Blue Lego brick
List 7: Something That...
1. Something that is shaped like a sphere
2. Something that is shaped like a cube
3. Something that bounces
4. Something that has a flower on it
5. Something that doesn't belong to anyone in the house
6. Something that is all the same color
7. Something that is bigger than a breadbox
8. Something that is fluffy
9. Something that is prickly
10. Something that is made of denim that's not jeans
11. Something that has a team logo on it
12. Something you throw
13. Something you clean things with
14. Something you cook things with
15. Something with fringe on it
List 8: Miscellany
1. Empty box
2. Book whose title starts with "The"
3. Tube of chapstick
4. Coin minted in the 1990s
5. Photo of your mom and/or dad before they were married
6. Kitchen gadget you've never seen used
7. Holiday napkin
8. Scented candle
9. Something your mom or dad owned before they were married
10. Something of yours that used to belong to someone else
11. Safety pin
12. Tape measure
13. Greeting card
14. Magazine
15. Bottle of nail polish
Outdoor Hunts (clipboards recommended)
List 1: Alphabet Hunt
As with the indoor alphabet hunt, each kid needs to find something (anything!) that starts with each of the letters of the alphabet, but NOT in order. Point it out and then write it on the list on your clipboard. The one with the most letters completed at the end of your walk (or the end of a set time) wins. Unless there are xylophones and zebras in your neighborhood, no-one will get every letter on the list.
List 2: Color Hunt
Choose a color (green, red, blue, purple, whatever) and have the kids make a list of anything they see that's that color. Afterwards, go through the list and cross out every item that more than one kid spotted. The one with the highest number of unique items wins! If your kids are younger or just not especially competitive, just have them point out the items they see.
List 3: Letter Hunt
Choose a letter of the alphabet and have the kids make a list of anything they see that starts with that letter. Afterwards, go through the list and cross out every item that more than one kid spotted. The one with the highest number of unique items wins! If your kids are younger or just not especially competitive, just have them point out the items they see.
The three outdoor hunts above work equally well on a walk or in your yard; the remaining lists really need to be done while walking around your neighborhood.
List 4: Flora and Fauna
1. Cat or dog visible in a window
2. Flower that's blooming
3. Tree with buds
4. Someone walking a dog
5. Bird with something in its mouth
6. Squirrel climbing a tree
7. Hawk
8. Statue of an animal or bird
9. Empty flowerpot or planter
10. Bird's nest
11. Two of the same kind of animal or bird together
12. Animal or bird chasing another animal or bird
13. Hanging plant
14. Green leaves or buds poking out of a garden
15. Someone working in their garden
List 5: Decorations
1. American flag
2. Wreath on a door
3. Christmas decorations
4. Easter decorations
5. Birdbath
6. Birdfeeder
7. Mailbox with a picture on it
8. Garden statuary
9. A religious statue
10. Car with a bumper sticker
11. Last name on the house or mailbox
12. Fake flowers
13. Potted plant on a doorstep
14. Hanging plant
15. Stained glass window
List 6: Fun and Games
1. Bicycle
2. Scooter
3. Skateboard
4. Basketball hoop
5. Trampoline
6. Swing hanging from a tree
7. Swingset
8. Roller skates
9. Sidewalk chalk
10. Motorcycle
11. Boat
12. Camper/trailer/RV
13. Skis
14. Pool
15. Any kind of ball
List 7: Around the House
1. Open window
2. 2-car garage
3. Garden hose
4. Ladder
5. Trash can
6. Recycling bin
7. Empty bottle or can
8. Garden shed
9. Doghouse
10. Open garage door
11. Rocking chair
12. Rake
13. Snow shovel
14. Gravel driveway
15. House with a porch or deck
List 8: Miscellany
1. Blue car
2. Storm drain
3. Someone pushing a stroller
4. Someone riding a bike
5. License plate with the letter L or P in it
6. Two sequential numbers or letters (e.g., house #12 or 23, or a license plate with "AB" or "BC")
7. Out-of-state license plate
8. Wheelbarrow
9. Brightly-colored front door
10. Pine cone
11. Acorn
12. Piece of broken glass
13. Tree stump
14. House with more than 2 cars in front of it/in the driveway
15. House with a chair on the porch or deck
Photo Hunts
If your kids are old enough to use a camera, indoor or outdoor photo hunts can be fun, too. Kids can either take selfies or work in pairs and trade off being the model and being the photographer. Here are a few ideas for those:
List 1: Pose (Indoors)
1. Put on a fancy outfit and pose like a supermodel
2. Find an apron and pretend to be a famous chef
3. Peek out from behind a door
4. Brush your teeth
5. Style your hair
6. Hide, badly
7. Pose like a body builder
8. Put on as many pieces of jewelry as you can
9. Sneaking a treat from the kitchen or candy dish
10. Sitting under a table
11. In a pillow fort
12. Pose like a ballerina
13. Do origami
14. Build a house of cards
15. Dress like your mom or dad and do something they'd do
List 2: Pose (Outdoors)
1. Point to a sign
2. Do a silly walk
3. Pretend to fall down
4. Do a cheer
5. Walk like a zombie
6. Hide behind a tree
7. Look at your reflection (in a puddle, a car window, a car's rearview mirror, etc.)
8. Walk an invisible dog
9. Jump in the air
10. Photo taken from a weird angle (overhead, looking up from the ground, etc.)
11. Do a handstand or cartwheel
12. Smell some flowers
13. With an animal (real or statue)
14, Climb a tree (not in someone's yard)
15, Lie on the ground
List 3: Something that... (Indoors)
1. Something that you'd see at a birthday party
2. Something that you'd use to fix something
3. Something that YOU would never use
4. Something that you can play with
5. Something that keeps you healthy
6. Something that goes on your face
7. Something that is tiny
8. Something that is huge
9. Something that is wet
10. Something that smells
11. Something that is colorful
12. Something that is sparkly or glittery
13. Something that is alive
14. Something that moves
15. Something that doesn't get used very often
List 4: Something that... (Outdoors)
1. Something that grows
2. Something that has wheels
3. Something that is yellow
4. Something that is only around for part of the year
5. Something that should be in a trash can
6. Something that was lost by someone
7. Something that is empty
8. Something that needs to be fixed
9. Something that is above your head
10. Something that can move
11. Something that looks out of place
12. Something that you step on
13. Something that is flat
14. Something that is rough
15. Something that smells
Happy hunting!
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