Looking for a free activity that gets everyone outdoors and off their screens (well, mostly)? Try our outdoor Alphabet Hunt. All you need is a smartphone or camera and a notepad to keep track of the letters you spot.
The idea is simple: as you’re out and about with the kids, keep an eye out for shapes that look like letters of the alphabet. Snap a photo each time you spot one, jot it down on your list, and see if your family can complete the whole alphabet.
Try This Fun Alphabet Hunt
We started looking for shapes that matched letters of the alphabet on our own family walks. Here are some of the letters we found along the way:
Some Tips For An Alphabet Hunt
1. First, make a list of the letters of the alphabet on a notepad so you can keep track of the ones you find.
2. You can find letters on road signs, shopfronts and even painted on the road, but it’s more fun to look for shapes first — branches of trees, cracks in the pavement or patterns that just happen to look like letters.
3. Try different locations for your hunt: the park, the beach, or a walk into town. Look down first to see what’s on the ground, then look up to check rooftops, wires and windows.
4. A different angle can reveal a letter you’d otherwise miss, so try looking at things from different heights and perspectives.
5. You don’t have to stop at one version of a letter — see how many different versions of the same letter you can spot.
6. As a fun variation, ask your child to hunt specifically for the letters in their own name.
Once you’ve collected your letters in photo form, there’s plenty you can do with them. Print them out and stick them into an alphabet photo book, or pick out the letters of your child’s name and frame them for a fun, personal bit of decor for their bedroom.
Tell us how you get on with your own outdoor Alphabet Hunt — we’d love to hear which letters were the trickiest to find!
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is the Alphabet Hunt suitable for?
It works well for most ages. Younger children can enjoy simply spotting shapes and having them pointed out, while older kids can take charge of the notepad and try to complete the alphabet unaided.
Do we need any special equipment?
No — just a smartphone or camera to snap your finds and a notepad or piece of paper to track which letters you’ve spotted.
Where’s the best place to go on an Alphabet Hunt?
Anywhere works, from a local park to a walk around town or along the beach. Different locations tend to turn up different letters, so mixing it up keeps the hunt interesting.
How long does it take to complete the alphabet?
That’s part of the fun — some letters (like S or O) turn up everywhere, while others (like Q or X) can take several outings to track down.
You May Also Enjoy
- Have You Tried Geocaching? It’s a Modern Day Treasure Hunt!
- 10 Mega Fun Scavenger Hunt Ideas For Kids
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