You’ve got to try these preschool scavenger hunts – they’re terrific! My boys are fully invested, and I get to watch on the sidelines with my hot tea. It’s that late-morning learning through play we all crave.
But this collection of scavenger hunts is even better than that. These ideas have us finding Paw Patrol Pups, nighttime treasure hunts, and even walking our neighborhoods searching for lucky finds. This is the group of scavenger hunts you are looking for!
RELATED: We love fun ideas such as these 50+ kid activities at home.
Why Are Scavenger Hunts So Good for Preschoolers?
The freedom and exploration of a scavenger hunt take the skills we’d like our toddlers and preschoolers to explore and put the learning in their hands. The thrill of seeking, finding, and crossing off the list is real!
This is a lot like me when I finally remember to put the grocery list in my bag, and I cross each item as it’s tossed in the cart—such a satisfying feeling.
When a child learns by doing, the child remembers. Scavenger hunts are a way to help elevate learning colors, letters, numbers, and so much more. From using markers on paper to a quick and simple printout, these scavenger hunts will be ready for you in a jiffy.
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to create teamwork. Here is why teamwork is important for kids along with simple preschool activities to encourage teamwork.
RELATED: Be sure to check out our activity cards; simple ways to invite play into your every day.
Collection of Preschool Scavenger Hunts
I’ve collected a combination of ideas from friends that have created some really cool preschool scavenger hunts. I divided the hunts into four categories; color hunts, letters/numbers hunts, outdoor scavenger hunts, and others (really cool ideas that needed a category of their own).
Dive in, and take a look around. I know you will find some terrific scavenger hunts for your preschoolers!
RELATED: Keeping supplies simple is where it’s at. Check out our top five supplies we cannot live without!
Color Preschool Scavenger Hunt
Color scavenger hunts are some of my favorite ways to learn and recognize different color shades. Here are six simple and fun ways to hunt for colors.
- Color Hunt Birthday Game (Made with Happy) – grab a free printable card with color squares for this preschool scavenger hunt. Give it to your kids and watch them run around to find matching colors!
- Color Words Hunt (Days with Grey) – for this preschool scavenger hunt scribble down some colors and get your little one to discover objects in the house that match.
- Musical Scavenger Hunt (Days with Grey) – create a chalk circle with colors then play the music! Whatever square they stop on they have to find an object to match the color.
- Rainbow Writing Scavenger Hunt (How We Learn) – draw a rainbow then have fun finding different color objects. When your child has found one, see if they can write it into the rainbow using the same color.
- Toddler Color Search and Find (Busy Toddler) – get some see-through Ziploc bags with color inside and see if your little one can fill them with toys the same color.
- Treasure Map Color Hunt (Days with Grey) – a preschool scavenger hunt with treasure is always exciting! Create a treasure map with some color dots and ask your child to join them up using the same color.
Letter and Number Preschool Scavenger Hunt
Letter and number hunts make a fantastic indoor preschool scavenger hunt.
- Alphabet Find (Busy Toddler) – for an easy literacy preschool scavenger hunt. hang letters around the house, call one out and watch them find it!
- Color Counting Hunt (Days with Grey) – draw out circles in different colors with a number inside. Watch your little ones collect the right color and number of objects.
- Letter Hunt Sensory Play (How We Learn) – fill a sensory tub with rice, sand, or whatever you want, and hide the letters inside!
- Name Hunt (How We Learn) – place names around the house, then sit back with your coffee as you call them out.
- Object Collecting Alphabet Hunt (Raising Dragons) – a great preschool scavenger hunt is using letters. Write the alphabet out on post-it notes and see if your kids can find an object that begins with each letter. Simple!
- Secret Message Hunt (School Times Snippets) – what’s a preschool scavenger hunt without a little challenge? Think of a word, write a line for each letter, and place a colored dot beneath each line. See if your child can find the letter that matches the color and spell out the word!
Preschool Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Bug Scavenger Hunt (Messy Little Monster) – as winter goes away, bugs come out to play! Making this a great spring scavenger hunt for preschoolers. Grab a sheet with pictures of creepy crawlies and see if they can find them around the garden!
- Colors of Nature (Messy Little Monster) – A preschool fall scavenger hunt is perfect when the leaves are turning. Cut some colored cards into squares and ask your kids to find things in nature that match.
- Nature Scavenger Hunt (Days with Grey) – go outside for a nature scavenger hunt for preschoolers and help your child find nature objects to collect.
- Nature Scavenger Hunt with Checklist (Made with Happy) – use a nature checklist for this preschool scavenger hunt. Watch as they run around to find things that are on the list!
- Outdoor Color Hunt (Days with Grey) – get a tray with colors inside and watch your children run around finding things outdoors that are the same color.
- Sound Hunt (Toddler Approved) – so great for little ears, this preschool scavenger hunt gets them listening to different sounds and learning what they are.
- The Backyard and Garden Hunt (Crafts on Sea) – another great checklist preschool scavenger hunt. Write out a list of objects and see if they can find them!
- Winter Scavenger Hunt and Printout (Kiddie Charts)– use these handy printouts so your little ones can discover new winter objects!
- Zoo Field Trip Hunt (123 Homeschool 4 Me) – a preschool scavenger hunt in a new place is always exciting. Take a list around the zoo and see if your kids can find everything there!
Other Scavenger Hunt Fun!
- Easter Hunt (Toddler Approved) – everyone knows this preschool scavenger hunt, right?! Hide some eggs and off they go!
- Fun Games to Play on Zoom (Meaningful Mama) – have a friend or family member tell your children over Zoom what they need to find. Watch them hunt for it!
- Heart Color Hunt (Toddler Approved) – this preschool scavenger hunt is super simple. Cut out colored hearts and hide them around the house. See if your little one can find them all!
- Hidden Puzzle Hunt (Busy Toddler) – hide pieces from their favorite puzzle around the house so they can collect them and fit the puzzle back together!
- Litter Picks Up Hunt (Toddler Approved) – a preschool scavenger hunt that teaches them about the environment is another level. See if they can find litter to collect.
- Multi-Language (Chinese, Korean, English) Hunts (Chalk Academy) – a preschool scavenger hunt is a great way to learn and practice languages. Give your kids scavenger hunt cards in a language of your choice to help them learn.
- Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunts (Coffee and Carpool) – make a list of things you might find on a walk around the neighborhood and watch your little ones find them!
- New Year’s Eve Hunt (Toddler Approved) – a preschool scavenger hunt on New Year’s Eve makes the day even more special. Print out some New Year’s Eve cards so your kids can have fun finding them at the party!
- Nighttime Treasure Scavenger Hunt (Happily Ever Mom) – what’s better than a preschool scavenger hunt? A preschool scavenger hunt in the dark! Grab a torch and see if your kids can find everything on the list!
- Paw Patrol Toy Hunt (Toddler Approved) – create a list of Paw Patrol toys for this preschool scavenger hunt. Hide the toys and see if your kids can find them!
- Snowman Hunt (Toddler Approved) – cut out snowman shapes and put the letters of your child’s name on each one. Once they’ve collected them, see if they can spell out their name in snowmen!
- Stuffed Animal Hunt (Toddler Approved) – make a picture list of the kids’ stuffed toys and the…hide them!
Scavenger Hunts Never Get Old!
A preschool scavenger hunt is so much fun yet so simple. Watch your kids run around, having the time of their lives while you get to sip a hot drink. What are you waiting for?! Get your little one hunting!
More Preschool Activities
- Color Counting Hunt
- Outdoor Color Hunt
- Outdoor Game for Toddlers; a Musical Scavenger Hunt
- Preschool Color Hunt
- 101+ Preschool Activities
Activities on Demand
Want great ideas without the ads? Download these 20 hands-on learning games for kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Think about what your child enjoys.
2. Think about what you already have around that enjoyment.
3. Make a list of what you find. Pictures help!
4. Hide objects around the house.
5. Invite your child to go on a hunt to find each item.
Scavenger hunts for kids can be done inside or outside. If you are headed outside, try this outdoor color hunt.
simple words next to the picture along with a box to check once the object is found.
