8 matching activities — all with full instructions, safety notes, and ways to adapt.
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Storytelling With Three Objects
Ages 3–920 minEasyIndoorImaginative
Three unrelated objects become the starting point for a spoken story. Children choose what role each object plays, decide what happens, and tell the tale in their own words. The mismatch between the objects is part of what makes the activity engaging — there is no right answer.
Adult Preparation
Collect three objects that have no obvious connection. Place them in a small bag or box so the child can reach in and draw them out.
Steps
1The child reaches into the bag and pulls out the first object. Ask: "Who or what is this in the story?"
2Pull out the second object. Ask: "What does this have to do with the first one?"
3Pull out the third. Ask: "How does this help end the story?"
4The child tells their story using all three objects. Adults can listen, ask questions, or add one sentence to keep it moving.
5Optionally, the adult takes a turn making their own story with the same objects.
Children can practise: Language and storytelling, imaginative thinking, sequencing, and listening.
You will need
Three small household objects (e.g. a spoon, a sock, a small toy)
Optional: paper and crayons
Make it easier
Use two objects instead of three. Adults can start the story and invite the child to continue.
Try next
Write or draw the story on paper afterwards. Try using four or five objects. Swap who picks the objects so each player has a turn choosing.
Safety note
Choose objects without sharp edges or small parts that could be a choking risk for younger children.
Cleanup
Return objects to their original locations. If the child drew their story, store the drawing somewhere it can be found later.
A collection of recycled boxes becomes the foundation for a model town, farm, or imaginary world. Children decide what each box becomes, decorate it to match, and arrange the buildings. The town can be added to over multiple sessions.
Adult Preparation
Collect a variety of box sizes. Flatten any that are not needed immediately. Cut any openings, such as doors or windows, that require a craft knife or strong scissors — this task should always be handled by an adult.
Steps
1Lay out the boxes and decide together what types of buildings the town needs.
2Choose a box for each building and draw on doors, windows, or signs.
3Decorate the outside of each box using crayons or paint.
4Allow any painted surfaces to dry fully before handling.
5Arrange the buildings on a flat surface. Use paper strips as roads between them.
6Add trees made from scrunched paper, or paper cones for hills.
Children can practise: Creative planning, fine-motor practice through drawing and cutting, and sustained play across a larger project.
You will need
Various cardboard boxes (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, small delivery boxes)
Crayons, felt-tip pens, or poster paint (non-toxic)
Tape
Scissors (adult-handled for thicker card)
Optional: paper scraps for roads, trees, signs
Make it easier
Focus on decorating one or two boxes rather than building a whole town. Use pre-drawn windows or doors if the child finds drawing small shapes difficult.
Try next
Add small vehicles, paper figures, or toy animals to populate the town. Create a "town map" on paper. Build the town on a large piece of card so it can be moved and stored intact.
Safety note
Adults should handle cutting, whether with scissors or a craft knife. Check recycled boxes for staples, sharp edges inside, or residue from previous contents. Non-toxic colouring materials should be used. Ensure good ventilation if paint is used indoors.
Cleanup
Allow painted pieces to dry fully before storing. Flatten and store the town carefully, or display it on a shelf. Unused scraps can be kept in a craft box for future projects.
Setting up a pretend café allows children to practise conversational language, number concepts (through imaginary prices and orders), and role-play in a familiar context. The play theme is flexible — the café can serve any kind of imaginary food the child chooses.
Adult Preparation
Set aside a small table or low surface as the café. Collect some safe, unbreakable crockery or the child's play dishes.
Steps
1The child draws a simple menu on paper, listing or drawing the food on offer.
2One person plays the customer and sits at the café.
3The child takes the order, "prepares" the food, and serves it.
4Swap roles so the child also has a chance to be the customer.
Children can practise: Language and conversation, number awareness through pretend pricing, and cooperative role-play.
You will need
Small plates, cups, bowls
Toy food or paper food shapes
A simple homemade menu (paper and crayons)
Optional: an apron
Make it easier
Skip the menu. The child simply serves food choices as they come to mind.
Try next
Add a "bill" that the child writes out. Use imaginary coins for payment. Invite a sibling or toy animal as a second customer. Write the specials on a small blackboard or piece of card.
Safety note
Use unbreakable dishes only. Do not use real food or drinks as play items with very young children unless supervised. Ensure small items are not accessible to children who may mouth them.
Cleanup
Return dishes to storage. Keep the menu for a future session if the child wishes to continue the play.
Toy animals are hidden or placed in tricky positions around a room, and children set off to find and rescue them. The activity blends a simple treasure hunt with imaginative storytelling — what happened to each animal, and how does it get safely home?
Adult Preparation
Hide toy animals around the room at accessible heights. Keep the hiding spots safe and appropriate for the child's age.
Steps
1Set the scene: the toy animals have wandered off and need finding.
2The child searches the room to find each animal.
3When found, the animal is "carried to safety" — a designated base or blanket.
4Count how many animals have been rescued.
5If the child wishes, invent a short story about what adventure each animal was on.
Children can practise: Observation, spatial awareness, imaginative narrative, and counting.
You will need
Small toy animals or figurines
Cushions, boxes, blankets, or furniture as the landscape
Optional: small piece of string as a rope
Make it easier
Use fewer animals. Hide them in plain sight rather than tucked away.
Try next
Draw a map of where each animal was found. Add a score for rescuing animals in a certain order. Make "animal rescue certificates" for each figurine rescued.
Safety note
Ensure hiding places are safe for the child to reach without climbing on furniture. Check that small figurines are appropriate for the child's age.
A simple sequence of clues leads a child from one location in the home to the next, following written or drawn directions to find the final prize. The difficulty of the clues can be matched to the child's reading or listening level.
Adult Preparation
Write four to six clues. Each clue gives a hint about where the next clue is hidden. For non-readers, use drawings or simple pictures as clues. Hide the clues in order.
Steps
1Give the child the first clue.
2They read or listen to the clue, decide where it points, and go there.
3They find the next clue at that location.
4Continue until all clues have been found.
5At the final location, they find the treasure.
Children can practise: Reading or listening comprehension, memory, reasoning, and a sense of independent achievement.
You will need
Small pieces of paper
Pen (adult writes clues)
A small "treasure" at the end — a sticker, a wrapped snack, or a chosen activity
Make it easier
Use only three clues. Make clues very direct: "Look where we keep the cushions."
Try next
The child writes the clues for an adult to follow. Use map-style drawings instead of written clues. Add a riddle to each stage.
Safety note
Ensure clues do not lead children to areas that are unsafe — kitchens with hot surfaces, bathrooms with water left running, or outdoor areas without adult presence.
Cleanup
Collect all clue papers afterwards. Treasure can be reused on another occasion if it is an activity rather than a consumable.
A collection of cleaned food packages becomes a pretend shop. Children arrange the stock, price items, and take on the roles of shopkeeper and customer. The activity naturally introduces early number concepts through counting and exchanging.
Adult Preparation
Collect clean, empty food packaging. Check all packaging has no sharp edges and has been thoroughly cleaned. Write simple prices on sticky labels.
Steps
1Set up the shop by arranging the items on a surface.
2Assign prices with labels.
3One person is the shopkeeper, one the customer.
4The customer chooses items, the shopkeeper adds up the price and receives payment.
5Swap roles after a few transactions.
Children can practise: Early numeracy through imaginary transactions, language and conversation, and cooperative role-play.
You will need
Empty food packaging (cleaned and safe)
A small box or basket as the till
Optional: paper "money" or buttons as coins
Sticky labels for prices
Make it easier
Skip the pricing. Simply practise the conversation of buying and selling.
Try next
Create a weekly special offer. Draw a shop sign. Write a receipt for each customer.
Safety note
Ensure all packaging is thoroughly cleaned before use. Check for sharp edges on tins or foil. Do not use packaging that contained allergens if a child has food allergies.
Cleanup
Pack the packaging into a box for future use. Return real household items to their places.
Blankets draped over chairs and a table become a tent. Cushions go on the floor inside. A torch lights the space. The setup creates a contained, cosy play environment that can be used for quiet reading, storytelling, or a pretend camping adventure.
Adult Preparation
Clear the chosen area. Set up the blanket tent structure using chairs and the table — check that it is stable and will not collapse. Ensure the torch is safe for children to use.
Steps
1Build the tent together, draping blankets over chairs or the table.
2Arrange cushions inside.
3Add a torch.
4Decide together what happens at camp — reading, storytelling, a pretend walk, cooking imaginary food.
5Spend time inside the camp before eventually packing it away.
Children can practise: Imaginative play, cooperation, and a sense of a personally created space.
You will need
Blankets
Chairs or a table
Cushions
A torch (adult supervises)
Optional: a picture book about nature or animals
Make it easier
An adult sets up the tent in advance as a surprise. Focus on one activity inside rather than several.
Try next
Make a "camp rules" list together. Use the camp as the setting for a longer story. Add outdoor nature sounds from a recording if the child is interested.
Safety note
Ensure the blanket tent is stable and cannot collapse. Use a battery-powered torch only — no candles or open flames under any circumstances. Do not use plastic bags as tent covers. Supervise children using the torch.
Cleanup
Fold blankets and return chairs and cushions to their usual places after the session.
Hands in front of a light source cast shadows on a wall. Children discover shapes their hands can make and turn them into characters for a short story. A rabbit, a dog, a flying bird — each requires a different hand position. The activity works equally well with simple cardboard figures.
Adult Preparation
Set up the torch at one end of the room pointing at a blank wall or white sheet. The room should be dark enough for shadows to be visible. Test the distance to get clear shadow shapes.
Steps
1Darken the room as much as practical.
2Place hands between the torch and the wall.
3Try different hand positions to make different shapes.
4Decide on two or three shadow characters.
5Improvise a short story using the characters.
Children can practise: Creative storytelling, physical awareness of light and shadow, and hand coordination.
You will need
A torch or lamp (battery-powered torch preferred)
A plain light-coloured wall or a white sheet
Hands — no other materials required; optional: cardboard cutouts on sticks
Make it easier
Focus on one hand shape. Adult tells the story while the child holds shapes.
Try next
Make simple cardboard figures on sticks for clearer shapes. Record the show using a phone if the child wishes.
Safety note
Use a battery-powered torch or a safe lamp only. Do not use open flames or candles. Ensure the darkened room has no hazards — move furniture to the edges beforehand. Supervise young children in a darkened space.
Cleanup
Return the room to its normal state. Pack away the torch.