This post was contributed by Stef of Non Toy Gifts.
Help Your Kids Make a Treasure Map!
My preschooler has been fascinated with maps ever since our visit to Chicago. It all started with me printing out maps for every segment of the road trip to be able to show him where we were and how long until our next stop. This triggered his interest, and now he uses every opportunity to ask for a map. If it was up to him I’d be printing out maps for every single place we go to, even the closest and most familiar ones, like the park next to our home.
I decided to help him make a treasure map not only to fulfill his fascination with maps but also with pirates. Both my boys love to take out their swords, put on their eye patches and look for crocodiles. Yes, crocodiles (and monsters) are our greatest enemies ever!
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How to Make a Treasure Map
Antique treasure maps are easy to make and kids can be involved in all steps, though some do require adult supervision. The more they are part of the creation process the prouder they will be when using them to look for treasures in the backyard! Here’s how to make a treasure map with your kids…
Supplies:
- drawing paper
- permanent marker and crayons
- black tea bag
- lighter (of course, only for adult use)
Steps:
Step 1. Draw your map with marker and color it with crayons
Step 2. Crumple up the paper into a ball. Repeat two or three times. The more wrinkles the better!
Step 3. Soak the black tea bag into hot water and wipe it all over the paper. If you press it firmly you’ll get darker spots. If you don’t have any black tea in the house you can use any other dark tea. I used one called “Bengal Spice”, and it not only did a great job in giving that antique look, but it also added a nice aroma to the map.
Step 4. Let the paper dry.
Step 5. Use a lighter (adults only, of course!) to burn the edges of your treasure map.
Happy treasure hunting!
Stef, a mom of two little boys, blogs at Non Toy Gifts about toy alternative gifts for young kids, from DIY to practical gifts. She shares ideas that will create beautiful childhood memories through experiences, adventures, fun learning and so much more.You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google +.
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.
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