We agreed to meet in a familiar park and brought a sheet with five things to find: a maple leaf, a pinecone, a feather, a smooth stone and a bird to spot. Each child chose a task. Their parents stayed close and helped the youngest join in.
At first the children kept close to their own parents. Then one found a bright leaf and another worked out which picture it matched. Soon they were searching as a team, passing the sheet around and cheering each other on. We adults finally had an easy conversation, too.
We finished at a bench, compared our finds and left the natural treasures in the park. There was no competition and no pressure to stay longer. Before saying goodbye, the children asked to write the next set of clues themselves.
