After a long cold winter and rain-soaked spring, summer is the perfect time to ditch the screens and take playtime fun outdoors. There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about running around the garden or local park searching for hidden treasures. Whether it’s being out in the fresh air, the warm sunshine or simply the freedom of being outside, outdoor games always seem to bring out the best in children. They are excellent for encouraging movement, sparking imagination and creating the kind of laughter-filled moments that families will remember long after the summer ends. Among the many outdoor activities and games available, scavenger hunts are a brilliant way to combine exploration, teamwork and even a dash of friendly competition. The PlayWorks Get Set Grow! Scavenger Hunt from The Works taps into that classic fun with a simple, energetic game that gets kids outside, moving and thinking at the same time.
This scavenger hunt set is a thick dry wipe board (measures 25x15cm) featuring 12 squares with items that children need to find. It also comes with a dry wipe pen (with eraser on top) and a magnifying glass. It’s very easy to use with an image and name of each item (and a checkbox to mark when item is found), making it ideal for spontaneous outdoor play.
The game centres around a collection of outdoor-themed items children must find (tree, spiderweb, leaf, watering can etc.), encouraging youngsters to search high and low around the garden, park or, on those many rainy days we have, trying to see what they can find by looking out of the window. The format is straightforward enough for younger children to understand, yet engaging enough to keep older siblings involved too. Because the items on the cards are everyday garden-based finds, children can play without needing any extra equipment or complicated setup. It’s the kind of game that works just as well for a quick ten‑minute burst of activity as it does for a longer, more adventurous session. It can be played solo, as a team or with a few boards, turn it into a competition to see who can complete their board first. And as it’s dry wipe, it can be erased and used over and over again.
Overall, the is a fun set for getting out in the fresh and exploring your surroundings. The board gives you the name and image of what you need to look for to tick it off, while the magnifying glass lets you examine things in more detail like the veins in a leaf or the whorls on the shell of snail. It’s a quick bit of fun with education benefits such as vocabulary building, object recognition and developing observation skills as they scan their surroundings while promoting problem‑solving as they decide where to search next. Plus it has that physical aspect of racing around the garden, stretching, crouching and exploring so getting in those daily steps and exercise.
The card is sturdy enough for repeated use, though it’s wise to keep it dry and store it safely after play to ensure it lasts through the summer (don’t leave it out in the garden). The compact size also makes it easy to take along on holidays, picnics or days out, adding a bit of extra entertainment wherever you go.
The PlayWorks Get Set Grow! Scavenger Hunt is a charming, affordable and engaging outdoor game that brings families together through active, imaginative play. While it doesn’t take long to play, it is perfect for summer outdoor fun – kids will be running around, discovering new things and enjoying the outdoors. For parents looking to encourage children away from screens and into the fresh air, this little set offers big value and endless opportunities for outdoor exploration, whether as a solo activity or group competition.
Perfect for little outdoor explorers.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £2
For more information or to buy online (or find your nearest The Works store), visit www.theworks.co.uk.