Why Treasure Island works

At its simplest, Treasure Island is about role, sequence, and believable pretend cause-and-effect, starting with the instruction to start at the marked landing point. Explore a pretend treasure island by following a map, solving clues and deciding what the treasure means in the story. The first useful comparison appears when the child then has to follow the map to the first landmark.

Set up — Start at the marked landing point

Prepare household items before the child is asked to start at the marked landing point. Complete the opening request to start at the marked landing point once before adding the next instruction to follow the map to the first landmark. Keep props ordinary and safe, and do not copy real hazardous, medical, or emergency procedures throughout that first transition.

Step 2 — Follow the map to the first landmark

Treat the attempt to follow the map to the first landmark as a checkpoint between the earlier step to start at the marked landing point and the coming step to solve one clue that points toward the next location. A perfect answer is not required.

Step 3 — Solve one clue that points toward the next location

After completing the instruction to solve one clue that points toward the next location, pause and ask what changed from the earlier step where they had to follow the map to the first landmark. Use that answer to decide whether they are ready to reach the treasure location and reveal the pretend treasure.

Step 4 — Reach the treasure location and reveal the pretend treasure

Keep the adult prompt brief while the child tries to reach the treasure location and reveal the pretend treasure. If needed, return to the earlier step to solve one clue that points toward the next location before asking them to return by a different route and retell the map sequence.

Step 5 — Return by a different route and retell the map sequence

Keep the pace slow while the child tries to return by a different route and retell the map sequence. If the effect is hard to see, simplify that action before continuing with the instruction to return by a different route and retell the map sequence.

What to notice before Return by a different route and retell the…

The strongest evidence appears after the child has tried to solve one clue that points toward the next location and before they finish by trying to return by a different route and retell the map sequence. Look for whether the next pretend action follows from what the characters just did rather than judging the round by speed or neatness.

Make Solve one clue that points toward the… easier or harder

Use the child’s last successful attempt to solve one clue that points toward the next location to set the next round. Simplify by doing this: use one role, one place, and one short problem. Extend it by doing this: add a second responsibility, clue, customer, or consequence that must be handled in order.

Finish after Return by a different route and retell the…

Return by a different route and retell the map sequence. That final check is enough to close Treasure Island without adding another task. For another activity, use the activity search or create one with the activity generator.