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Imagine · Wild and Tumble activity

Pass the story stick

Whoever holds the stick tells the next bit! Build a silly story together, one line at a time.

  • 15 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Indoors or out
  • Any season
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 a stick · 12 min to tell · 1 min to finish. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • One special stick
  • Two or more storytellers

Let's begin

Five simple steps

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

  1. Sit in a circle, under a tree if you can.

  2. The first person holds the stick and starts: "Once upon a time, there was a..."

  3. Pass the stick. The next person adds a line.

  4. Keep passing until the story has an ending.

  5. Retell the whole story at bedtime.

All done!

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

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