A Simple Pirate Treasure Hunt

Still following along with Nurture Store's Simple play:: complex learning series, I'm sharing our very simple treasure hunt. We originally did this as part of our International Pirate Day celebrations but it was such a hit that Bubbles regularly requests it. It requires almost no preparation, I've never taken more than a minute to prepare it but provides heaps of fun.

 To begin with I grabbed a piece of plain paper and very roughly drew a very simplistic map of how to get from our house to the park, I then marked an x near where the swings are. Next I looked through Bubbles' dress up box and put some play jewellery and pirate treasure in a draw string bag. I packed us a picnic lunch and that was it preparation done!

 I gave Bubbles the map and explained what the pictures where. As soon as she had the map Bubbles insisted she needed her backpack  and in Dora Explorer style explained to me that we had to go through the trees, to the park to find the pirate's treasure! She had so much fun looking at the map, putting it in her backpack and pulling it out again to check where we were and where we had to go next. I hadn't realised how much of an impact Dora Explorer had had on her, but was pleased to see her having so much fun.

When we got to the park I sent her ahead to search for treasure and while her back was turned quickly picked up some sticks and formed an X with them and dropped the treasure back on top. Bubbles wasn't nearly as interested in the treasure as she had been with the map and journey. After we'd finished our picnic and playing at the park she took out her map again and navigated our way home. :)

Bonus Recipe-Pirate Sandwich
Ingredients:
Favourite sandwich filling
Bread
Capsicum
Cream Cheese
Carob/Chocolate Chip
Carrot
Celery

How to make:
Using your favourite sandwich filling and bread make a sandwich as you normally would.
Cut sandwhich into a circle using an egg ring or similar circular cutter.
Cut and carve capsicum to make pirate's bandana.
Place cream cheese in a piping bag with a small round novel. Pipe dots onto bandana.
Cut carrot to create the pirate's eyepatch.
Place carob chip as other eye.
Cut celery to make a nose and mouth.
Enjoy!

Please always supervise your infant/child at play.  Please stay within arms reach and never leave infants/children unattended.  You know you're infant/child best, use your own judgement-considering your infant/child's temperament, habits, behaviour and development before you play with a new play medium.