How to Pack an Exploring Bag for Kids

Kids can find adventure in the simplest places. By creating an Exploring Bag for them, you can turn a neighborhood stroll into a fun, curiosity-building experience. Here’s what you need to get started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. A kid-sized backpack that’s big enough to hold some basic exploring tools, but not so big that your child wants to bring along his entire train set.
2. A magnifying glass, a tool that is guaranteed to hold a child’s interest for years.
3. A clear, plastic container for bug and critter collecting. Poke holes in the lids before you leave home.
4. A spade for scooping up dirt and turning over rocks. Teach your kids how to pull the rock toward them so that any surprised snakes will run away from them.
5. A map. Young kids may want to draw their own. Some may be content to use a highway map in the front yard. Older kids may enjoy leading the way on an actual hiking trail.
6. A butterfly net. Many toy stores carry miniature versions for small hands.
7. A compass. Even in our high-tech world, a compass is a fascinating tool for kids of all ages.
8. A camera for documenting the adventures and capturing all the bugs and objects you want to identify at home.
9. A small flashlight and/or headlamp. Certainly these are helpful as the sun goes down, but they are also great for shining into holes or dark logs.
10. Gloves. Some kids—even adventurous ones—just don’t like to get their hands dirty. Look for kid-sized gloves in the gardening aisles.
11. A plant or animal I.D. book. This is especially helpful for older kids, but even preschool-age kids like to know the official names of trees and animals.
12. And for the grown-ups to carry along on the adventure: plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, bug repellant and first-aid supplies.