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Explore · Wild and Tumble activity

Ant trail watch

Where are they all going? Follow a line of ants and discover where they live.

  • 15 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 2–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Late spring to summer
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 2 min to find ants · 12 min to watch · 1 min to head off. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A sunny path or patio with ants
  • A tiny crumb of biscuit, optional
  • A magnifying glass, optional

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Look for ants marching in a line.

  2. Follow the line with your eyes. Where does it start? Where does it end?

  3. Put a tiny crumb nearby and watch who finds it first.

  4. Together

    Do they carry it together? Which way do they take it?

  5. Look for a little hole or sandy hill. That's their front door!

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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