Beyond the Screen: A Fall Garden Scavenger Hunt for Families

As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, screen time naturally creeps up. Cozy indoor days are wonderful—but so is getting outside, even when it's chilly. This fall and winter, when we're most tempted to stay indoors, families need to be intentional about reconnecting with nature. That's where our free printable Kids Fall Garden Scavenger Hunt comes in.

It's part of the Rewilding Play pillar from our Propagating Play™ 4P System—and it's the perfect way to get your family outside, curious, and exploring together.

What is Rewilding Play?

Rewilding Play is simple: it's about giving kids space and freedom to reconnect with the natural world, without screens or schedules getting in the way [2]. Think of it like rewilding a garden—you're letting nature do what it does best while kids explore, discover, and play on their own terms.

When kids engage in outdoor play like a scavenger hunt, they're not just having fun. They're building the kind of resilience and connection to nature that serves them well, especially as they grow [4]. And that matters, because spending time in nature—especially wild, green spaces—genuinely improves health and well-being [1, 3].

Why a Scavenger Hunt?

A scavenger hunt taps into something powerful: your child's natural curiosity. When kids are hunting for something, their brains light up. Curiosity actually increases memory retention and makes learning stick [6, 7]. They're thinking quickly, observing closely, and making discoveries—all while moving their bodies and breathing fresh air [10].

That's the magic of a scavenger hunt. It's not a passive list of things to find. It's an invitation to explore, wonder, and really see what's happening in your garden or local park right now.

Let's Get Outside

This fall, as screens call louder and the couch seems more inviting, grab the scavenger hunt and head outside with your family. You don't need a perfect garden—a backyard, a park, even a neighborhood walk works beautifully.

Let your kids get curious. Let them move. Let them discover. That time together, outside and present, is exactly what fall and winter need.

👉 Click here to instantly download the scavenger hunt and get started today!