24 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.
Pairs of sealed containers filled with matching materials become a listening and matching puzzle. Children shake each container, listen carefully, and try to find the two that sound the same. No two fillings sound quite alike, which keeps the activity genuinely challenging at any level.
Adult Preparation
Make pairs of containers with identical fillings. Seal lids firmly with tape. Check that no container can be opened by a young child. Do not allow young children to handle unsealed containers.
Steps
1Shake one container and listen together to its sound.
2Shake a second container. Do these match?
3Keep trying containers until a match is found. Set the pair aside.
4Continue until all pairs are found.
5Mix the pairs up and play again from the start.
Children can practise: Auditory discrimination, listening, early matching and comparison.
You will need
Small containers with lids (e.g. empty film canisters, small plastic pots, or cardboard tubes with covered ends)
Fillings: rice, dried lentils, small pebbles, pasta, sand, dried beans
Optional: tape to seal lids securely
Make it easier
Use only two or three pairs. Choose fillings with very different sounds — rice versus pebbles.
Try next
Blindfold the player while shaking (with their agreement). Describe the sound in words before looking for the match. Make a new set with different fillings.
Safety note
Adult must check that all containers are sealed before the activity begins. This activity is not suitable for children who still explore objects by mouthing. Keep fillings inside sealed containers at all times. Discard any container that leaks or opens.
Cleanup
Store sealed containers in a bag for reuse. Do not leave unsealed fillings accessible to young children.
During an outdoor walk, children look for natural colours that match their chart. This turns an ordinary walk into a focused observation exercise. Colours found in nature vary with the season, making this activity different each time it is tried.
Adult Preparation
Make a simple colour chart with coloured dots or paint swatches. Include colours likely to be found outdoors — green, brown, grey, yellow, white, orange, red. Adults should assess the outdoor area for safety before the walk.
Steps
1Give the child their colour chart at the start of the walk.
2Point to one colour and ask them to watch for it as you walk.
3When a match is spotted, point to it on the chart.
4Collect fallen leaves or stones only — do not pick living plants.
5At the end of the walk, lay out any collected items and compare them to the chart.
Children can practise: Colour recognition in natural settings, observation, and early awareness of seasonal change.
You will need
A simple homemade colour chart (coloured dots on card or paper)
Optional: a small bag for collecting fallen leaves, petals, or pebbles
Make it easier
Focus on two or three colours only. Walk slowly and point out colours together.
Try next
Try to find every colour on the chart. Draw the most interesting colour match found. Compare the chart results from two different walks.
Safety note
Adult supervision is required outdoors. Stay away from roads, water, and areas with unknown plants. Do not pick or eat any berries, seeds, or plants — even if they look familiar. Wash hands after collecting any natural items. Check the area for uneven ground, insects, and other local hazards.
Cleanup
Return any collected items to the outdoor space where possible, or compost safely. Wash hands after handling natural materials.
An obstacle path lets children design and move through a short physical challenge using whatever is available in the outdoor space. The route can be changed each time, making repeated attempts feel different. Children often enjoy setting up the course as much as completing it.
Adult Preparation
Check the outdoor area for hazards before setting up. Ensure all equipment is stable. Keep the course low and simple — avoid anything requiring jumping from height or climbing above waist level without support.
Steps
1Together, lay out five to eight obstacles across the outdoor space.
2Walk the course together first, deciding what to do at each point — hop, crawl under, balance across, go around.
3The child completes the course from start to finish.
4Change one or two obstacles and try again.
5Invite the child to design their own course for the adult to try.
Children can practise: Gross motor coordination, spatial awareness, planning, and persistence.
You will need
Flat outdoor space
Items from around the home: hula hoops, chalk, old tyres, low step, rope, small cones or stones as markers
Make it easier
Use fewer obstacles. Walk the course side by side rather than racing. Focus on one movement type per session.
Try next
Time the course with a simple countdown. Try completing it backwards. Invent new rules for each obstacle.
Safety note
Adult supervision is required. Avoid wet, slippery, or uneven surfaces. Do not include obstacles that require climbing above knee height without proper support. Ensure no sharp edges or unstable items are included. Children should wear appropriate footwear. Stop if the course becomes too slippery after rain.
Cleanup
Return all equipment to storage. Check the outdoor area for any items left behind.
On a sunny day, children trace their own shadow or the shadow of an object onto the ground with chalk. This is a simple way to observe how shadows are formed and how they shift through the day. Two tracings made an hour apart can show visible movement.
Adult Preparation
Choose a paved area where chalk marks are acceptable. Check the surface is dry and safe for standing on.
Steps
1Ask the child to stand still in a sunny spot.
2Trace around their shadow with chalk.
3Write the time beside the outline.
4Return to the same spot an hour or so later and trace the shadow again.
5Compare the two outlines.
Children can practise: Observation, early understanding of light direction, and a first encounter with how time changes natural conditions.
You will need
Chalk (for pavement or concrete)
Sunny outdoor space
Optional: watch or clock for observing shadow movement
Make it easier
Simply trace the shadow of a short object — a toy, a cup — rather than a person. This is easier to keep still.
Try next
Make three or four tracings across the day. Predict where the shadow will be before looking. Try shadows at different times of year.
Safety note
Adult supervision is recommended outdoors. Avoid looking directly at the sun. Ensure children are protected from sun exposure — appropriate clothing, shade breaks, and sun cream where needed. Keep sessions short in very hot or bright conditions.
Cleanup
Chalk washes away in rain. On dry days, rinse chalk marks with water if preferred.
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.
Each player adds to a shared drawing, one contribution at a time. There is no plan — the picture grows with each turn, often becoming surprising or funny. The activity works with any number of players and does not require drawing skill.
Adult Preparation
Lay the paper on a flat surface. Decide who draws first.
Steps
1The first player draws one element — a building, a creature, a shape — anywhere on the paper.
2Pass the paper to the next player. They add one element that connects to or responds to what is already there.
3Continue around the group until the paper feels complete.
4Look at the finished picture together and talk about what appeared.
Children can practise: Creative expression, turn-taking, and observing how contributions affect the whole.
You will need
A large sheet of paper or several A4 sheets joined with tape
Pencils, crayons, or felt-tip pens
Make it easier
Give each player a prompt: "add something that flies", "add something underground".
Try next
Each player must add something that connects to both neighbouring drawings. Try a longer chain where each player covers their contribution except a small edge before passing the paper on.
Safety note
Use non-toxic markers and pens. Keep lids on when not in use to prevent drying out or spills.
Cleanup
Leave the finished drawing to display, or fold it and keep in a family drawing file.
A reading corner challenge invites children to create a comfortable reading space and choose from a small selection of books. A simple bingo-style reading card — find a book with an animal, read something with a number in the title — adds an optional light structure to open reading time.
Adult Preparation
Set up a comfortable, well-lit corner. Gather books at a range of levels. If using a reading bingo card, draw a simple grid with one challenge per square.
Steps
1Set up the reading corner together.
2The child chooses what to read.
3If using a bingo card, they look for books that match each square.
4Adults may read alongside the child or be available for questions.
5After reading, share one thing from the book that was interesting.
Children can practise: Reading for pleasure, independent choice, and sustained quiet attention.
You will need
A selection of books, comics, or picture books
Cushions or a blanket
Optional: a simple reading bingo card
Make it easier
Use picture books. Adults read aloud together. There is no requirement to finish any book.
Try next
After reading, ask the child to retell the story in three sentences. Invite them to choose the next book for the adult to read.
Safety note
Ensure the reading space has adequate lighting. Books should be age-appropriate.
Children draw a simple picture — or a sequence of pictures — showing what they did during the day or during a memorable event. There is no requirement for recognisable drawing. The value is in pausing to reflect and choosing what felt important enough to include.
Adult Preparation
Set out paper and drawing materials. Consider folding the paper into four or six sections if the child wants to draw a sequence.
Steps
1Ask the child: "What happened today that you want to remember?"
2Give them time to think before starting.
3They draw one or more scenes from their day.
4When finished, they can tell an adult about the drawing.
5The adult may write a caption if the child wishes, using the child's own words.
Children can practise: Personal reflection, sequencing memory, and drawing as a form of expression.
You will need
Paper
Crayons, coloured pencils, or pens
Make it easier
Draw just one moment rather than a whole day.
Try next
Keep a running "day book" with drawings from each day of a holiday or a particular week. Compare entries from different days.
Safety note
Use non-toxic, age-appropriate drawing materials.
Cleanup
Keep the drawing in a folder or scrapbook. Store drawing materials safely.
A collection of recycled cardboard boxes becomes a free-form construction material. Children stack, line up, and arrange boxes into towers, walls, paths, and structures. Unlike building blocks, boxes of different sizes offer irregular stacking challenges that make the activity genuinely problem-solving in nature.
Adult Preparation
Flatten and check recycled boxes for staples or sharp inner edges. Collect a variety of sizes.
Steps
1Tip out all available boxes onto the floor.
2Invite the child to build whatever they wish, with no fixed plan.
3Watch and be available without directing the structure.
4When done, take a moment to look at what was made.
5Knock it down together (if the child agrees) and try again.
Children can practise: Spatial reasoning, problem-solving through trial and error, and sustained independent play.
You will need
Cardboard boxes of different sizes
Optional: tape, paper scraps
Make it easier
Use boxes of similar size to make stacking simpler.
Try next
Introduce a challenge: build as tall as possible. Build a structure that can hold a toy animal on top.
Safety note
Check boxes for staples, sharp edges, and food residue before use. Do not allow climbing on box structures. Supervise young children.
Fallen leaves offer a collection of natural shapes, textures, and sizes for comparison. Children gather leaves, arrange them by size or shape, and look closely at the details of each one. Leaf rubbings are an optional extension that creates a lasting record of the collection.
Adult Preparation
Check the outdoor area is safe. Ensure children will only collect fallen leaves and not pick from plants.
Steps
1Collect a variety of fallen leaves from the ground.
2Lay them out on a flat surface.
3Look at the differences — size, colour, edge shape, number of points, surface texture.
4Sort them into groups of your own choosing.
5Optional: place a leaf under paper and rub a crayon over the top to make a leaf rubbing.
Children can practise: Observation, sorting, early botanical vocabulary, and fine motor practice through rubbing.
You will need
A collection of fallen leaves
Paper
Crayons or pencils for rubbings (optional)
Make it easier
Focus only on size — big leaves and small leaves.
Try next
Make a leaf collection book by pressing leaves between paper and storing in a folder. Try to identify tree types from leaf shapes using a simple field guide.
Safety note
Wash hands after handling leaves and outdoor materials. Wear gloves or supervise closely if a child has sensitive skin or plant allergies. Do not collect from unknown plants or plants with berries. Adult should check all collected leaves before the child handles them.
Cleanup
Return leaves to the outdoor space or compost. Wash hands thoroughly.
A walk outdoors focuses on touching and noticing textures — tree bark, brick walls, grass, a smooth paving stone, a rough wall. Children record what they find by drawing or ticking, building a personal record of textures in the nearby environment.
Adult Preparation
Make the recording sheet in advance. Check the outdoor route for safety. Identify a few textures along the route to point out if needed.
Steps
1Set off on the walk with the recording sheet.
2When a surface is noticed, stop and touch it carefully.
3Decide which column it belongs in.
4Draw or tick the matching column.
5Continue along the route.
Children can practise: Tactile awareness, observation, and simple data recording.
You will need
A simple recording sheet with "smooth," "rough," "bumpy," and "soft" columns
Crayons
Optional: magnifying glass
Make it easier
Use only two categories — smooth and rough.
Try next
Compare textures from two different locations. Collect rubbings from different surfaces on the walk.
Safety note
Adult must check all surfaces before the child touches them. Avoid surfaces with sharp edges, animal droppings, mould, broken glass, or unknown substances. Wash hands after the walk. Check for insect hazards on outdoor surfaces.
Cleanup
Wash hands after the walk. Store the recording sheet for comparison on another occasion.
Each family member writes one or two questions on strips of paper and adds them to the bowl. The group takes turns drawing and answering. Questions can be curious, silly, thoughtful, or imaginative. The activity encourages conversation without requiring it to flow naturally from shared experience.
Adult Preparation
Cut paper into strips. Write a few starter questions to demonstrate the range: "If you could only eat one meal for a week, what would it be?" "What is one thing you would like to learn how to do?" "What animal do you think I am most like?"
Steps
1Each player writes one or two questions and folds the paper.
2Mix all questions in the bowl.
3Take turns drawing and answering a question.
4The person who wrote the question can share why they chose it if they wish.
5No one is required to answer a question they find too personal.
Children can practise: Conversation, listening, and learning more about other family members.
You will need
Strips of paper
A pen
A bowl or bag to mix the questions
Make it easier
Adults write most of the questions. Young children can dictate questions.
Try next
Write themed sets — questions only about food, only about imaginary situations, only about the past.
Safety note
Ensure questions are appropriate and kind. Any participant may pass on a question without explanation.
Cleanup
Keep the questions in the bowl for another session, or start fresh each time.
Players work together to build the tallest tower they can using only the available items. There is no individual winner — the goal is shared. The challenge encourages negotiation about which items to add next and how to keep the structure stable.
Adult Preparation
Gather a selection of stackable items. Clear a stable flat surface.
Steps
1Lay out all available building items.
2Players take turns adding one item to the tower.
3When the tower falls, start again and try a different approach.
4Each round, discuss what made the tower fall and what might help it go higher.
Children can practise: Negotiation, spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and cooperative play.
You will need
Blocks, boxes, books, or any stable stackable items
Make it easier
Use only identical blocks or boxes. Keep the tower short.
Try next
Challenge: the tower must support a small toy on top. Try building cooperatively with each player using only one hand.
Safety note
Ensure items are not too heavy to handle safely. Supervise young children near tall towers that could fall on them.
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.
A family story map is a drawing of a shared journey — a holiday, a regular walk, a trip to visit someone. Each person contributes their memory of different points along the route. The finished map is not geographically accurate — it reflects what each person noticed and remembered, which makes it personal and interesting.
Adult Preparation
Choose a journey or walk that everyone involved shared. Lay out the large sheet of paper.
Steps
1Draw a simple start and end point at opposite sides of the paper.
2Each person marks one memory from the journey — a place, a sight, a moment.
3Connect the memories with lines and add labels.
4Compare what different people remembered or noticed.
5Display the completed map.
Children can practise: Shared memory and storytelling, drawing, and noticing different perspectives.
You will need
A large sheet of paper
Crayons, pencils, or pens
Make it easier
Use a very familiar route, such as the walk to school or a regular outing.
Try next
Add a legend key for the symbols used. Create a story map for a journey from a book or story.
Safety note
Use non-toxic materials. No specific hazards.
Cleanup
Display the map or fold it into a family memory folder.
Children fold paper aeroplanes using different designs and observe how far each one travels. Rather than competing, the focus is on noticing what affects the distance and whether different folds or launching angles change the result. This turns a simple craft into a genuine observation exercise.
Adult Preparation
Show two or three simple folding methods, or let children try their own designs. Ensure the throwing space is clear of people.
Steps
1Fold two different paper aeroplanes using different designs.
2Launch each from the same starting spot.
3Mark or note where each lands.
4Discuss what might have affected the distance.
5Try adjusting the fold or the throwing angle and observe again.
Children can practise: Observation, early cause-and-effect thinking, and fine-motor practice through folding.
You will need
Several sheets of paper
A flat outdoor or indoor space
Optional: a ruler or string for measuring
Make it easier
Use a simple one-fold design. Focus on the throwing rather than comparing distances.
Try next
Measure the distances and record them on a simple chart. Add a small paper clip to the nose and notice whether this changes the flight.
Safety note
Paper aeroplanes should not be thrown at people. Launch toward an open space only. Supervise younger children in outdoor spaces. Do not use outdoors near roads or open water.
Cleanup
Collect and recycle all paper aeroplanes. Pick up any that land in planted areas.
Children design a board game path on paper, deciding what spaces do — miss a turn, move forward two, answer a question — and then play the game they created. The design process is as much the activity as the playing itself.
Adult Preparation
Lay out the large paper. Help younger children lay out the path squares in advance if needed.
Steps
1Draw a winding path of around twenty to thirty squares on the paper.
2Write simple instructions in some squares: "Go back one", "Skip a turn", "Free choice".
3Add illustrations if desired.
4Place tokens at the start.
5Each player rolls the dice and moves. Follow the instruction on the square reached.
6First to reach the end wins.
Children can practise: Creative design, planning, reading instructions, and cooperative play.
You will need
Large paper or card
Crayons or pens
A dice
Small tokens (a button, a pebble, a small toy for each player)
Make it easier
Adult draws the path in advance. Focus on colouring and playing rather than designing.
Try next
Add challenge squares with simple questions or physical tasks. Make a new version with a theme — space, jungle, ocean.
Safety note
Use non-toxic materials. Check that tokens are not small enough to be a choking hazard.
Cleanup
Fold and store the board for another session, or create a new one each time.
A collection of clean recycled containers provides a free-form construction material without any fixed outcome. Children use them to build, stack, and arrange whatever they imagine. The irregular shapes make the experience genuinely problem-solving — they do not fit together in a predictable way.
Adult Preparation
Collect and clean a range of containers. Check for sharp edges on tins or lids. Remove any lids with sharp edges before offering to children.
Steps
1Spread the containers on the floor.
2Invite the child to build, arrange, or construct — with no set goal.
3Observe and offer interest without directing.
4If the child wishes, help tape pieces together.
Children can practise: Open-ended problem solving, spatial thinking, and independent creativity.
You will need
Clean recycled containers: pots, lids, cardboard tubes, small boxes
Optional: tape to join pieces
Make it easier
Use containers of similar height so stacking is more predictable.
Try next
Challenge: build something specific — a car, a zoo, a rocket. Tape or glue pieces together and decorate.
Safety note
Check that all containers have clean edges and are free from food residue. Keep sharp-edged tins and lids away from children. Ensure containers are clean and free from allergen residue if relevant.
Cleanup
Flatten and recycle containers after use, or store the set for future building sessions.
Children spend time in an outdoor space with a simple notebook, recording what they observe — insects on the ground, a bird passing overhead, the colour of bark, the sound of wind. A nature journal has no correct entries. Its value is in the attention it encourages.
Adult Preparation
Create a simple journal by folding and stapling paper, or use a small notebook. Go outside together and give the child time to settle before starting.
Steps
1Find a comfortable outdoor spot.
2Spend a moment sitting quietly and observing.
3Choose one thing to draw or write about.
4Add a note about what time of day it is, what the weather is like.
5Return to the same spot on another day and notice what has changed.
Children can practise: Sustained observation, descriptive writing or drawing, and a connection to the nearby natural environment.
You will need
A small notebook or folded paper pages stapled together
Pencil and crayons
Make it easier
Draw one thing only. The adult writes a label if the child wishes.
Try next
Visit the same spot across different seasons. Try drawing from memory after moving away from the object.
Safety note
Adult supervision is required outdoors. Do not collect or touch unknown plants, insects, or animal remains. Wash hands after the session.
A drawing the child has made — or a favourite picture — is glued to card and cut by an adult into simple puzzle pieces. The child reassembles it. Because the picture belongs to them, the activity has a personal quality that a shop-bought puzzle does not.
Adult Preparation
Glue the picture firmly to card. Allow to dry completely. Cut into pieces — the number and shape of pieces should match the child's age and experience. Cutting is done by the adult.
Steps
1Mix up the pieces and spread them face up.
2The child assembles the puzzle.
3Once complete, look at the finished picture together.
4Mix up and try again with eyes closed for the first placement.
Children can practise: Spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and fine-motor practice.
You will need
A child's drawing or a simple picture from a magazine
Thick paper or card backing
Glue
An adult with scissors
Make it easier
Cut into only four or five large pieces.
Try next
Turn pieces face down and try to assemble the puzzle from memory of the picture.
Safety note
Adult handles all cutting. Check no sharp card edges remain on pieces.
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.