I created this easy nature craft for kids last year after we an illness in the family meant we were confined to our home and garden, something that seems very relevant when I’m updating it now! While we were outside my daughter kept wanting to pick flowers and leaves to show me and to make things with (I had a lot of leaf ‘ice creams’) which got me thinking about other ways we could use her new found treasures. Using our tree template seemed the obvious answer, making a great starting place for a cute nature activity.
Tree Nature Craft
Of course when you’re making this craft I’m not by any means suggesting that you encourage your kids to go out into your garden and pull up all the flowers and rip all the leaves off the trees, in fact that’s probably the last thing I’d recommend! As a kid I loved making flower ‘perfumes’, making daisy chains and little posies of flowers and I think it’s important that kids are able to get hands on with nature but as with everything, in a way which is respectful to the environment it comes from.
My kids are welcome to pick the daisies and dandelions which grow in our lawn and the ivy which overflows on our fence but other than that I ask that they check with me first. If you’re worried that your child will go and pull up your prize peonies to decorate with just go round the garden with them and you can choose leaves, petals and flowers together.
Like this craft? Make sure that you bookmark this page or pin an image so that you can return to it later plus keep reading for more crafts and activities inspired by nature.
Tree Craft Materials
To make this sweet tree craft you will need our free tree template – print off as many copies as you’d like. You’ll also find some ideas there for other tree crafts that you might like to try with your child.
You’ll also need some double sided sellotape, scissors to cut it and of course some leaves and flowers.
How To Make This Into a Four Seasons Craft
We created this craft during the summer but could easily do it as a four seasons craft for kids by printing off four copies of the tree and adding different things for each season. Add flowers and leaves for spring, green leaves for summer and look for oranges, yellows and browns for autumn. For winter you can either look for older leaves, evergreens or leave it blank maybe adding some snow.
How to Make Your Nature Craft
Of course you don’t need to stick your flowers onto your paper, you could just use it as a background where your child can move and re-decorate the tree. If you do want to stick things down then I recommend that you use double sided sellotape which is what I’ve used. Put a strip of the tape along some of the branches and then you can stick your leaves and flowers onto this. Glue can be less than awesome for materials which aren’t totally flat and there’s nothing fun about your child being upset if things fall of their tree if they’ve laid it all out perfectly!
More Nature Crafts and Activities:
Love encouraging your children to get hands on with nature? We’ve got loads more ideas for you to try out. Why not go on a walk in the woods and then try out this paint rolling activity with pinecones that you find?
These frozen flowers are really popular and it’s easy to see why as they look gorgeous! Perfect for a bit of nature inspired sensory play.
Finally for outdoor adventurers why not check out our round up of camping crafts for kids with 15 fun ideas to make.
