Handprint Leaf Fairies

(Open Ended Play)

Y has brought home some leaves this morning. Some are big, some are smaller in size. I decided we could make fairies tray today using her collection.

Materials:

-3 different color of construction paper, we used blue, cream and pink

-tape

-leaves

-scissors

-stapler

-a tray

-fillings, we used dried beans

Instruction:

-roll the leaf into a cone shape with smaller opening on one end and bigger opening on the other, secure each end with stapler

-trace your kiddo’s hand onto construction paper. Then cut out in layer so that you could make two handprints in one cut.

-stand the leaf on its bigger opening

-secure each handprints on the back of the rolled leaf

-draw a circle with a strip on a construction paper like shown in the following picture, to make head, and cut it

-draw half circle (bigger than previous circle size) on another construction paper to make hair and then cut it

-assemble and secure head and hair using tape (or glue, optional)

-draw eyes and mouth on the face using pencil

-draw a headband using pencil

-secure the head piece inside the rolled leaf using tape

-set up the materials on a tray, present to your kiddo and let him/her play freely

Handprints were traced and cut, leaves were rolled, construction paper for hair and head were ready. All assembled.

A tray for the day was set up: dried beans, rolled leaves, and a fairy. She said “whiiiy” excitedly and lifted the fairy right away “up up up” above to let her fly.

She saw the beans and played it right away. Something unthinkable for me, she turned the fairy upside down. At that moment I realized that she saw the fairy as a funnel now! Oh my it was hard not to laugh. She peek at me. I tried to hide my grin right away and managed to make a smile.

She continued with her play: grab and pour, over and over again. She used the other smaller rolled leaves as container where she could pour beans into and dumped it from. As always with pouring, she did lots of counting.

Adult’s definition of play is most of the time different from kiddo’s understanding of - and need for - play. Fairy as a funnel, oh well, why not? This is why we should let our children play freely.

#fairies #handprint #leaf #beans #sensory #tray