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Make · Wild and Tumble activity

Coffee filter leaves

Colours that run, swirl and glow. Scribble on coffee filters, spray with water and watch the magic.

  • 20 min total
  • Some mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Indoors
  • Autumn
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: 3 min to prepare · 14 min to create · 3 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • White paper coffee filters
  • Washable felt-tip pens in autumn colours
  • A spray bottle of water, or a paintbrush
  • A tray

Let's begin

Five simple steps

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

  1. Little one leads

    Your child scribbles all over a coffee filter in reds, oranges and yellows.

  2. Lay it on the tray and spray it with water.

  3. Watch the colours spread and mix.

  4. Leave to dry.

  5. Grown-up job

    An adult draws a leaf shape and helps cut it out. Stick it on a window.

All done!

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

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