Miracle Pre-Schooler Entertainment Freebie: Animal Scavenger Hunt Flashcards

by Maura Kelly March 20, 2020

Update: You can view the current weekly freebie here.

A project I've yet to complete that the kids have been asking about due to getting the new website here ready was finally about to be underway: printing out more of my cameo art prints for each of their rooms. Sprucing up is what I like to do to lift spirits around here and redirect nervous energy, so I decided it was time. Then, it occurred to me that a lot of kids could use something to cheer them up while they're cooped up, and I got to thinking about how I might be able to help.

I've decided to introduce digital products, and to offer them as rotating weekly freebies. This terrifies me a little bit, because it's really hard to protect your work when it's a digital download. I'm taking the faith in humanity route, and hoping these freebies and instant downloads are a source of joy in your home.

All will be:

Instant digital downloads (3 download limit - save it carefully!)
Printable on 8.5x11” paper
Free for personal use
Free for 1 week, then listed for purchase

The first freebie in the series is Animal Cameo Flash Cards.

animal cameo flash cards freebie printout

These flash cards feature Bark & Burrow cameo illustrations, and can be used for not only letter recognition and sight reading, but a game that entertained my young kids (ages 2&4) for AN ENTIRE HOUR yesterday. UPDATE: they spent another hour playing today!

So, really this freebie should be called a miracle.

Download it here, or subscribe to the newsletter to receive a download link and stay updated about what goes on around here, receive future freebies I'm offering.

The Scavenger Hunt

animal cameo flashcards spread out on table

Print out your flash cards and cut along the dotted lines. You need two copies for the game, unless you're doing variation No. 1 listed below. I printed some on regular printer paper, then some on cardstock for durability. I elected to laminate them before playing, so as to build anticipation, and provide further entertainment since my children are fascinated and delighted by lamination. They are their mother's children.

The game is simple. Get your kids to look the other way while you dash to one set of the cards around your house. Save a match for each card hidden, and hand out one card at a time. The first animal must be found before a new card is received.

If they spot other animals along the hunt for their first assignment, they must try to keep it a secret - if they get that card in the future, they'll know where to look. If they don't, they must not reveal hiding places to their competitors.

We played in a largely collaborative way, without much competition and the cards hiding in plain sight since the kids are little.

rubber ducky cameo flashcard hiding on fireplace

On top of the dining room fireplace was a particularly tricky spot - just above eye level, and normally we just walk right by on the way to the TV room.

Here's some more ideas for how to play:

for really little kids, it doesn't even have to be a structured game, just let them run around and find them without dictating which animal to pick
race to see who can find a set number faster in a round
add in points per animal found, keep a tally over several games
make it collaborative (we did this to start, and I helped as needed, of course)
for beginning readers, cut off the words and hide the pictures. Then switch and hide the words and see if they can recognize them.
have the kids take turns hiding them for each other, and you (this can be hilarious)
for older kids, make it a bigger part of the day and plan ahead, hiding the animals in tougher to find spots that they might not discover until they're going through their daily routine

We also hid them by the back door...

rubber ducky cameo flashcard in front of door