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Imagine · Wild and Tumble activity

Story stones

Once upon a pebble... Draw little characters on smooth stones and tell stories with them.

  • 20 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: 5 min to collect · 12 min to draw · 3 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • Five or six smooth, flat stones
  • Felt pens or chalk pens

Let's begin

Four simple steps

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

  1. Look at each stone's shape. Does it look like a cat? A house? A boat?

  2. Little one leads

    Your child draws a character, place or thing on each one.

  3. Pop the stones in a bag.

  4. Pull out one at a time and add it to your story.

All done!

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

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