The Stick Box
Sticks are possibly the most versatile play resource that nature ever invented. These ideas do not even begin to cover the possibilities…
Wishing Sticks
Find a small forked twig that is just the right size for you and a friend to grasp with your pinkies (little fingers). On the count of three start tugging until the twig snaps. Whoever gets the biggest piece of the twig gets to make a wish.
Stick Dogs
Tie a piece of string or twine to a short fat stick. This is now your dog to look after. Woof! Take him to a dog show…
Pooh Sticks
Find a stick to drop over one side of a bridge. Go to the other side of the bridge and wait for it to appear. If you and a friend both do this, which stick appears first? Is it possible for both to arrive at the same time? Can you fix the results of this activity?
Stick Puppets
Draw a face on a flat stick. Put double-sided sticky tape on the back. Attach a leaf of your choice to make the hair and introduce yourself.
Nature Jigsaws
Find a twig. Break it into 3 pieces and give it to a friend to put back together. Try the same with a leaf. Stick the pieces on a piece of paper. Create a funky mosaic or just enjoy exploding the leaves.
Pick up Sticks
Everyone find a stick and put it into a pile in the middle of the circle. Take turns to remove a stick without disturbing any of the others. If you do, you keep the stick. If you don’t, the next person has a go.
Towers
Build a tower of sticks. Use only sticks lying on the ground. See how tall you can make the tower and estimate how many sticks you used. Then remove one stick at a time until it falls down. Remember to count as you go along.
Sticky Words
Use sticks to make your name or at least the first letter. What is the minimum number of sticks you can use? Add flowers and other objects to jazz up your stick name.
Sticky Sculptures
Use elastic bands to attach sticks to each other. Hang in interesting ways and places.
Sticky Endings
What can you do with the ends of a stick to make them more useful, interesting or exciting…? Now there’s a challenge 🙂
Really helpful list! Do you mind if I copy, laminate and hang by the trees on our little village green? I’ll be sure to put your website on it..
Please do! Thanks for asking!
As usual some unique, fun and creative ways to enjoy the great outdoors, thanks for linking up with your wonderful ideas.
Brilliant ideas! Might try some out in nursery 🙂
as you say such a simple play item but soooo many possibilities x
We LOVE sticks here. It calls to him to pick it up I’m sure! He likes to poke his in leaves and use them as a walking stick or throw them into water. Yes the opportunities are endless!
We love sticks too – what a great list! #CountryKids
What a great collection of little stick activities! We love collecting and playing with sticks:-)
sticks are always the first thing my boys head for whenever we are outdoors 🙂 Great list
Wow! Thanks for all the comments and thoughts! Other than I reckon I could blog about sticks for ever and a day…
I love this, how fantastic! Thanks for sharing, I will be pinching some of these 🙂
xx
Fab ideas Juliet, I can’t get enough of sticks either!
Something I have found useful for those computer gamed youth that have discovered Minecraft (I’ve seen as young as 5 figure out the game), is have them use sticks like the tools in the game – one stick for an ‘ax’, one for a ‘pick’, one for a ‘shovel’, one for a ‘hoe’, etc. Also, they can have ‘rocks’ by used like in the game (outlining ‘houses’, making ‘steps’) or use them as “Ender Pearls” and rush where they land. Throw in a some Minecraft themed snacks and you will have occupied kiddos. They can play in a 3D sandbox game- aka – the backyard!
Jess – Thanks for such an inspired idea. I’ve yet to fathom out the fascination of Minecraft and perhaps your suggestion will inspire me to work harder here!
My chestnut tree drops a huge load of chestnut stalks each year, resembling the ‘stick’ letters, like E, F. L, I . They make a very interesting knobby font! (Thanks to careful pruning by a certain arborist, the tree still thrives in Ontario!)
Who knew that sticks could be so useful and so fun?! We like to write words and numbers with the ones in our garden.
You can’t buy a stick in a toy store. https://craigarmiger.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/you-cant-buy-a-stick-in-a-toy-store/
Your post was the inspiration for my first blogpost.
Hope you enjoying the sunshine. It’s Welsh sunshine here and it’s not wet!
Aw thanks for letting me know Craig. The weather’s good here in NE Scotland as well 🙂