Photo hunting

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Every phone has a camera, but in the absence of a phone, one can consider purchasing a second-hand digital photo camera, which is a cost-effective alternative. Additionally, the advantage of using a legacy digital camera is less stress about dropping it on the ground.

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Second life, extended life for old digital cameras

We’ve bought each kid their own digital camera (cost about ~ 15Eur each). So sometimes when we go out, for a walk, or if we go on some trip with family, we combine it with a photo hunt.

What could be hunted?

Before going on a walk or trip, parents should create a list of things they could come across along the way, for a photo hunt. If there are multiple children, each one can be assigned a different task. Parents should choose hunting objects that can be found during the walk and plan the route so that it coincidentally leads to the objects to be ‘hunted down.’

For instance, when going to the park, parents can imagine the path to the park and identify objects that can be found along the way, as well as within the park itself.
One example is photographing an oak tree, which would spark the child’s curiosity about how it differs from other trees.
Another task could be capturing a picture of a Jeep, helping the child recognize various types of vehicles and perhaps even photograph specific car brands.

If some objects cannot be found during the current photo hunt, they can be left for the next time or saved for future hunts.

Trophies and prizes

When you return home from photo hunt, you can have the child transfer the hunted pictures to the computer and print them out. Then, you can either display them on a trophy wall or store them in a trophy album.

You can create a list of targets and go hunting for specific item from the list each time, imagining where the targets might be found and planning a walk accordingly.

Once the game list or album is complete, you can reward the child with a gift. It may be helpful to agree on the gift in advance or even purchase it beforehand, so that the anticipation of the gift motivates the child to complete the list as soon as possible.

Examples for inspiration

If you’re as lazy as I am to you, this list of possible game trophies will help. If not directly, then as an inspiration to come up with your own hunting objects.

  • Steps
  • Mailboxes
  • Machine
  • Red traffic light
  • Road sign
  • Dog
  • Tree
  • Coffee machine
  • Gas station
  • Doors
  • Wheel
  • Bench
  • Bush
  • Flowers
  • Bird
  • Bookshop
  • Policeman
  • River
  • Puddle
  • Truck

Think for yourselves whether you know where to hunt – photograph a particular item. But it’s also ok if you don’t get to hunt something down.
This can also be a valuable lesson that you don’t always get what you want, sometimes things does not happen the way it was planned.

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