Back to ideas

Explore · Wild and Tumble activity

Lacy leaf hunt

Leaves that look like lace. Search the ground for delicate leaf skeletons.

  • 15 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Late winter

*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 prepare · 12 min to hunt · 1 min to head home. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A walk through woods, hedges or a park after winter
  • A flat box or book to carry finds home safely

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 among old, wet leaves on the ground.

  2. Search for leaves where only the lacy veins are left.

  3. Hold one up to the sky. What can you see through it?

  4. Talk about where the rest of the leaf went. (Tiny creatures and the weather!)

  5. Carry your favourite home flat to keep.

All done!

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

If you enjoyed this

More little ideas like this.

All activities