Easiest Outdoor Crafts for Children

Outdoor crafts are a great activity for your children and they do not cost a lot to do. Not only will it give them endless joy, but it will help them get outside in the fresh air, learn new skills, and develop their creativity. If you are stuck for new outdoor craft ideas, our list of the easiest outdoor crafts for children can help.

Rock Painting

Painting rocks became a craze that swept through the UK and many other countries in 2018. As part of The Kindness Rock Project, children would paint pebbles or rocks and leave them for others to find. In turn, the child that found a painted rock would paint another one and leave it out for another child to find — so the chain of painted rocks spread on and on. Whilst it is a nice idea to spread some painted rock joy to other children and families, you don’t have to leave them out for others to find, you can always leave them in your own garden or house for you and your family to enjoy.

Getting your children to paint rocks couldn’t be easier, just follow these simple steps:

• Find a small and relatively flat rock. Think of rocks that you would see in a river or ocean.
• Find an apron or other cover to put around your child so they do not get paint on themselves or their clothing. You may also want to cover the work area so it is safe from paint also.
• Paint the rocks with white paint — masonry or acrylic should do the job.
• Leave the paint to dry on the rock.
• Once they have dried, you and your children can paint them any design you want to. You could paint your child’s favourite animal, or maybe go for some bright colours.
• To make your painted rock really stand out, you can use black permanent marker over any lines you have to add more details to the artwork.
• Once painted, use a clear varnish to protect the paint — this is especially important if you are going to leave the painted rock outside
• If you are creating a rock animal, once the varnish has dried, you can add googly eyes.
• Find a nice spot for your painted rock, and enjoy!

Flower Pressing

You don’t need a garden or the biggest and brightest flowers for flower pressing, most of the flowers you will find around your home or neighbourhood make an excellent choice for flower pressing.

To press flowers all you need is a book, some kitchen roll, something heavy to place on top of the book, and some flowers. Follow these simple steps to help you:

• Pick a flower as soon as you are ready to begin flower pressing
• Get a heavy book that you do not use often. Be aware that it might get slightly dirty during this process.
• Open the heavy book to the very middle.
• Line the pages with kitchen roll
• Lay your flowers on the kitchen roll, and gently close the book and place something heavy on top of it to keep the flowers pressed down.
• Leave the flowers in the book for around two weeks.

If you have followed these simple steps above, you will have beautifully pressed flowers. They can be used for a range of different things such as bookmarks or added to candles.

Recycling Activities

We are all becoming more environmentally conscious and getting your children involved in recycling is a great way to create healthy habits. Teach your children how recycling works and participate in showing them what can and cannot be recycled. Another fun thing to teach them is how to reuse plastic. Almost all families have some leftover plastic from drink bottles which can easily be transformed into bird feeders or plant pots and can make for a fun outdoor activity. Reusing old plastic helps prevent it from ending up in landfills or waterways.

The Learning Experience in East Finchley, London offers a range of ground-breaking childcare and early education programmes to children aged between 6 months and 5 years old. With nearly 40 years experience they make it their mission to positively influence each and every child, family and community they serve. The Learning Experience provides children with fun activities, which aid with their intellectual and social development. Call The Learning Experience today to schedule a tour, and find out how they can give your child the best platform for development.

The Learning Experience – East Finchley Day Nursery and Preschool
250 East End Rd
London N2 8AU
020-8444-2638
https://thelearningexperience.co.uk/center/east-finchley/