Little Hands at Home: Nature Suncatchers
Sometimes the simplest activities create the loveliest memories.
Nature suncatchers are a beautiful way to combine time outdoors with a little creativity at home. Begin with a walk through the garden, park or countryside and encourage children to collect a few natural treasures along the way — colourful petals, interesting leaves, tiny flowers and delicate grasses.
Once home, those little finds can be transformed into a beautiful suncatcher to hang in a sunny window.
What You’ll Need
Clear sticky contact paper
A selection of leaves, petals, small flowers and grasses
Card or a paper plate to create a simple frame
Ribbon or string
Child-safe scissors, with appropriate adult supervision
How to Make Your Nature Suncatcher
Start by cutting your contact paper to the size and shape you would like your suncatcher to be.
Peel away the backing and place the sticky side upwards. Let your little one arrange their collected flowers, petals and leaves however they choose. There is no right or wrong way to do it — part of the fun is allowing children to create something entirely their own.
Once they are happy with their design, carefully place another piece of clear contact paper over the top and gently press everything into place.
Add a simple card frame if you wish, finish with a piece of ribbon or string, and find a sunny window where your creation can catch the light.
More Than Just a Craft
Activities like this offer children so much more than something lovely to make.
A nature walk encourages curiosity and gives children an opportunity to notice the colours, shapes and textures around them. Arranging their treasures encourages creativity and concentration, while handling small petals and leaves can help develop fine motor skills.
Most importantly, it is an opportunity to slow down, explore and spend time together.
Little Hands at Home is a Burlington Nannies series sharing simple, thoughtful activities for children, nannies and families to enjoy together.
