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Are you looking for fun outdoor activities for kids in the run-up to Christmas? This free printable Christmas nature scavenger hunt is perfect for keeping them busy – and it’s a great way to burn off some of that excited energy too!
At this time of year, it can be tricky to keep up the outdoor time with the kids. The days are shorter, the weather is colder (and usually wetter), and we’re all busy preparing for Christmas. But there is so much to enjoy in nature right now, and getting everyone outside is a brilliant way to de-stress and lift everyone’s mood.
And of course, being outside also gets you that precious exposure to natural light which can boost vitamin D levels, combat depression and help to regulate your body clock.
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Easy nature play ideas for winter
To make sure we prioritise that all-important outdoor play for kids, even when it’s crazy busy and cold, we need low-effort, low-cost kids activities that require very little in the way of planning and preparation.
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My book ‘A Year of Nature Craft & Play’ has a nature-themed activity for every week of the year, with a whole section of winter nature play ideas to help you get outdoors. There are nature crafts, gardening projects, art activities, science experiments and outdoor games for kids to try, all designed to be simple to organise and budget-friendly. As well as being a great resource for your own outdoor fun, it makes a lovely gift too.
You can find out more about the book in my post on nature play ideas for kids, and here’s the link to buy on amazon: *A Year of Nature Craft & Play. This video also shows you a bit more of the book and some of the activities:
Free Christmas nature scavenger hunt printable
An outdoor scavenger hunt for kids is a fantastic way to explore nature in winter. It might be a bit chilly out there, but there are so many wonderful things to look out for and enjoy.
If you’d like some Christmas scavenger hunt ideas that incorporate outdoors play, you’re in the right place.
This free printable is a Christmas nature scavenger hunt kids will love. It’s perfect for helping them to engage with nature and have fun outside. The added bonus is that it’s a fun outdoor activity for kids which doesn’t cost a penny!
You can do your scavenger hunt in the park, use it to make a nature walk more fun, or even take it on the school run to turn an essential journey into something more exciting.
As this is a Christmas kids nature scavenger hunt, you’ll find a few festive-themed items on the list. There are also plenty of general nature items that are easy to find at this time of year.
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How to use the Christmas printable nature scavenger hunt
When it comes to low-effort outdoor activities for kids, this scavenger hunt for Christmas is about as simple as it gets.
All you need to do is download my kids Christmas scavenger hunt (scroll down for the link) and print if off, then wrap up warm and head outside to see what you can find!
When kids spot an item that’s on the list, they can tick or cross it off. It’s a good idea to take a pen or pencil with you, but it’s fine if you forget to do this. Just ask children to try and memorise all the things they see during their search, then you can update the list when you get home.
Don’t worry if some of the things on this nature treasure hunt are a bit tricky to find. For example, there’s a snowman on there, but if it hasn’t snowed where you live kids can look out for snowman decorations when you’re out on your nature adventure.
You also don’t have to tick everything off the list in one session. Children can come back to it again and again, and take as long as they like to finish it.
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How to extend the nature play: questions to ask during your scavenger hunt
Want to make your Christmas scavenger hunt game last longer, or get kids thinking a bit more about the nature they are exploring? Here are some ideas for questions you can ask them.
- Why do you think you can see the things on your scavenger hunt list at this time of year?
- Is it easier to spot things at a certain time of day? Why do you think that is?
- Have you seen something that isn’t on the list?
- How do your senses react to the things you spot? What can you see, hear, smell and touch?
- Imagine you’re in charge of nature scavenger hunts for Christmas; is there anything you would add to the list?
- How does being in nature make you feel?
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Download your free Christmas nature scavenger hunt printables
Ready to download your free printable nature scavenger hunt list and have some Christmas fun?
Just click on the link, print it off, and you’re good to go!
I hope you have lots of festive outdoor fun 🙂
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More great ideas for outdoor play in winter
If you’d like some more ideas for outdoor activities with kids in winter, I’ve got you covered.
My post on winter nature crafts has some lovely ideas for using natural materials in kids crafts. This post on Christmas nature crafts has some gorgeous projects for kids to try too.
You could go on a pine cone hunt, then make my pine cone trees or pom pom pine cones.
Winter is a great time to make my homemade bird feeders and provide a much-needed source of food for your local wildlife.
For general garden fun, check out my roundup of 60 fun garden activities for kids.
I’ve also got a post on gardening with children in winter which has lots of suggestions for quick and easy seeds for little ones to plant.
You might also like my post on how to help kids benefit from outdoor time.
And if you just want the kids to help you stay on top of the garden, my gardening jobs for each month series will get you all organised!
I also co-run a Nature Crafts & Play Facebook group which shares loads of fun ideas for nature craft and play.
And if you’re looking for environmentally friendly gift ideas, my eco friendly gifts for kids gift guide will save you lots of time!
Finally, if you share your nature adventures on social media, my best nature hashtags post is full of copy and paste lists and will save you lots of time.
Have these kids outdoor activities inspired you to enjoy winter outdoors with the kids?
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