May 21

May 21 Collect & create

Step 1 ~ gather

Step 2 ~ create

I think there’s something really nice about art activities that include natural materials, and a special magic in those that require an outdoor treasure hunt to get them started. Whether it be flowers or leaves, sticks or bark, the great outdoors is strewn with materials that can be used to ignite your child’s creative spark.

You may have to look no further than your own backyard, or you may need to venture beyond. As restrictions are gradually easing, and we may begin to feel more comfortable going out to stretch our legs, we can encourage our littlies to keep a look out for interesting bits’n’pieces. Their ‘eagle eyes’ often spot totally different things than adults do - encourage them to spy interesting objects and shapes as you wander along naturestrips or through parks.

If you find your pram filling up with sticks and leaves, pause a moment before ditching the lot and consider if a few pieces might come home for the craft box. Could they become the starting point for some creative activity? If they’re damp or muddy, leave them in the sun for a while to dry off before letting the kids get busy.

I’ve blogged often about crafting with Autumn leaves, those seasonal jewels of the naturestrip crown, so glorious for their vibrant colours and shapes. But you don’t have to wait for Autumn as they’re not the only leaves worth collecting. Gum leaves are great too, long and slender they often dry to a flat, crisp cardboardy finish that’s perfect to paint on, but fine to decorate with textas too.

Pebbles and stones are fun to paint. Seek out those with smooth surfaces and flattened bases, and the addition of paint can transform them into a different kind of treasure.

Sticks seem to have a magnetic appeal for many children - when my son was very young the phrase “put down that stick!” was my daily catch cry. But sticks are also an awesome starting point for creative projects. Add some wool to wrap them. Add masking tape or string to get some construction started. Thread them with patty pans or paper shapes. Add paint to transform them into something really cool. There are endless possibilities.

So, on your next wander, be sure to gratefully gather some of Mother Nature’s debris and then offer it, along with some basic art and craft materials, to your children. You might be amazed at how magically they can be transformed.

Have fun!