Friday, February 25, 2011

Go Letterboxing With Children

Letterboxing is an exciting pastime enjoyed by both adults and children. Your kids will enjoy the hunt, and you will get some exercise too!


Instructions


1. Explain to your children what letterboxing is all about. You're going to go on an "adventure," trying to find a "secret treasure" in the woods, that somebody has hidden for you to find. You'll put on your hiking clothes and comfortable shoes or sneakers, and pack up your gear in a backpack.


2. Gather your notebooks and rubber stamps. If you are just starting out, or a casual letterboxer, purchasing a rubber stamp is acceptable. Go with your children to the craft store and let them pick out their own. This should get your children more excited about the activity.


3. Research a good spot to find a letterbox. Visit www.letterboxing.org for a comprehensive list of letterboxes all over the world. Or, do a basic Internet search. Read the information on the letterboxes carefully, to try to find one that seems simple enough for children. Avoid long, steep hikes if possible.


4. Print out your clues and pack your backpack. Be sure to pack water and snack, and maybe even a special treat for the children. When you reach the letterbox, have your children open the box and use the stamp in the box to stamp their own notebooks, and vice versa. Allow your children to flip through the letterbox notebook to check out all the interesting stamps there. Point out how long ago people visited, or if visitors came from another town or state.


5. Sit down, take a rest and eat your snack. Praise your children if they were able to find the letterbox.







Tags: your children, find letterbox, pack your