6 Ideas to Try Right Now
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#1·15–20 min
Nature Printing
🛒Materials: Leaves, flowers, paint, paper
- 1Coat the bumpy side of a leaf with paint.
- 2Press it onto paper and lift carefully.
- 3The leaf's texture prints perfectly.
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#2·15 min
Sponge Painting
🛒Materials: Sponges, paint, paper
- 1Cut sponges into shapes (star, circle, square).
- 2Dip in paint and stamp onto paper.
- 3Layer colours for a fun effect.
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#3·15–20 min
Word Treasure Hunt
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil
- 1Hide 5 paper 'clues' around the house, each with a simple word (e.g. DOOR, TABLE).
- 2Each clue leads to the next hiding spot.
- 3Final clue leads to a small reward (sticker, snack).
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Write words your child can almost-but-not-quite read for the perfect challenge.
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#4·20–30 min
Design Your Dream Bedroom
🛒Materials: Paper, coloured pencils
- 1Draw a rectangle for the room outline.
- 2Add furniture: bed, wardrobe, window, desk.
- 3Decorate: what colour are the walls? Any pets? A slide?
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Ask 'What's in the secret room behind the wardrobe?' — watch their imagination go wild.
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#5·20 min
Backyard Bug Survey
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil, magnifying glass (optional)
- 1Draw a simple data table: Bug | Tally.
- 2Walk slowly around the garden for 10 minutes.
- 3Every bug spotted gets a tally mark — which is most common?
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Introduce the word 'survey' — they feel very grown-up doing science.
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#6·15 min
DIY Balance Beam
🛒Materials: Painter's tape or a long plank
- 1Lay tape in a straight line on the floor.
- 2Challenge your child to walk heel-to-toe along the line.
- 3Make it harder by adding curves or carrying a cup of water.
