Treasure Hunt with Trees: Follow the Directions

Following directions is the whole heart of this treasure hunt with Trees. The grid shows a square for every picture, and the child begins on one of them, then moves the way each arrow points: up, down, left, or right. Step by step, the route winds through the Trees until it stops on the treasure. The child never counts a thing here — instead they read a direction, decide which neighbouring square it leads to, and move there with care. This kind of orientation, knowing up from down and left from right on a map, is a readiness skill that helps later with letters, lines, and reading order. The familiar Trees keep the hunt warm and inviting, and each correct turn builds a little more confidence.

In this variant the start is clearly marked and the directions are simple, a gentle first try. The child looks at the Trees on the map, follows just a handful of moves, and lands on the treasure quickly. That early success makes the child want to set off on the next hunt — looking instead of counting, warm and without any rush.

If your child enjoys this treasure hunt with Trees, there is plenty more to explore, with no pressure and no counting. You can print the worksheet as a PDF to follow on paper, or play the interactive version online, always free and with no sign-up. There are no timers and no scores: each child sets the pace, with warmth and no shame about a wrong turn. When this is easy, try a treasure hunt with Trees on a bigger map, or follow the directions through a new set of pictures. You can also browse every treasure hunt worksheet to keep the spatial-reasoning practice going, gently and at your child's own pace.