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Make · Wild and Tumble activity

Hidden leaf patterns

Let nature leave its mark with simple paper and chunky crayons.

  • 15 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Indoors
  • Spring to 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 · 10 min to explore · 2 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • Large clean leaves
  • Paper
  • Chunky crayons with wrappers removed by an adult

Let's begin

Three simple steps

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

  1. Put a suitable leaf under a sheet of paper, with the textured side facing up.

  2. Help keep the paper still while your child rubs the crayon gently across it.

  3. Together

    Look at the patterns together and try another texture if they want to.

All done!

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

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