Get the kids outside and help them explore their surroundings with this great activity!

Last week we moved into our new home. Anyone who has moved with young children knows how difficult it is to unpack, sort and organise your new home and life while keeping the kids entertained. By day 4 the kids were starting to get a little bored. I needed to keep them busy and help settle them into their new house so I created a 'sticky wall' for them too collect things they found around the backyard.

Miss 3 LOVED doing this. Mister 1 just pulled everything off the sticky wall! Eventually he happily played the his twigs while Miss 3 created her collage. At first she grab whatever she could find but then she started finding what she called "treasures" - things like a broken shell and mirror from the previous people who loved here. 

When she was finished collecting her bits and pieces she carefully stuck them on the sticky wall. Some bits wouldn't stick or would fall off after a few seconds. This frustrated her but it gave me an opportunity to explain why it was happening. Some berries were wet and some of the stick were too heavy and one of the nuts was too round so we discussed this and she was content again.

When she'd run out of bits for her collage we pressed sheets of pink paper against the sticky wall and then trimmed off the edges. It was then stuck to the wall in her new room, just above the bed so she can look, touch and feel all the different pieces from her new surroundings.

This is a great sensory activity and can help children to feel familiar and comfortable in their new surroundings. I definitely recommend doing an activity like this if you are moving to a new place, have new children who will be staying at you home or something has happened at home to discourage outside play. It keeps the kids busy hunting for interesting and different things in the outdoors and makes them stop and really investigate nature.

We'll be doing some more nature craft soon and hopefully Mister 1 will get on board with us next time!

How would you help your child feel comfortable in a new home?

You might also like our Collage Craft for Toddlers or our Rainbows Touch Sensory Play

 

linking with Essentially Jess

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+1 # Bronwyn 2014-06-03 10:25
This is lovely! We have a little nature table but the pieces stay in a basket, a display like this will look beautiful and show a different angle/arrangeme nt.
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0 # Mums Take FIve 2014-06-03 21:56
Quoting Bronwyn:
This is lovely! We have a little nature table but the pieces stay in a basket, a display like this will look beautiful and show a different angle/arrangement.

yes thats a great idea too. wonder if mine would leave them in the basket! Thanks for stopping by
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+1 # Aroha 2014-06-03 10:36
oh my gosh what a fabulous idea! I wish I had thought of something like this 2-3 years ago! Not sure Mr 5 would be that entertained by it now. Love it! And yes, moving with kids is HARD! As if moving isn't hard enough already!??! -Aroha (for #teamIBOT)
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0 # Mums Take FIve 2014-06-03 21:56
Quoting Aroha:
oh my gosh what a fabulous idea! I wish I had thought of something like this 2-3 years ago! Not sure Mr 5 would be that entertained by it now. Love it! And yes, moving with kids is HARD! As if moving isn't hard enough already!??! -Aroha (for #teamIBOT)

Exactly! i hope not to have to do it again for a while :) Thanks for stopping by
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+1 # Create Bake Make 2014-06-03 19:50
What a lovely idea, my toddler would enjoy this. He has an odd fascination with collecting sticks/rocks and other items from the garden! I hope the move is going well & you are all unpacked and settled in no time x
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0 # Mums Take FIve 2014-06-03 21:54
Quoting Create Bake Make:
What a lovely idea, my toddler would enjoy this. He has an odd fascination with collecting sticks/rocks and other items from the garden! I hope the move is going well & you are all unpacked and settled in no time x

Some collect stickers ... some rocks :)
yes still unpacking :) x
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+1 # Hope 2014-06-03 21:11
Oh I like this idea, it's perfect for Miss 7 of mine. And with school holidays coming up too I think you've just helped me sought out an activity that should keep us busy for at least an afternoon. xx
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0 # Mums Take FIve 2014-06-03 21:58
Quoting Hope:
Oh I like this idea, it's perfect for Miss 7 of mine. And with school holidays coming up too I think you've just helped me sought out an activity that should keep us busy for at least an afternoon. xx

Yeah you could do it from a day at the park or beach - make it a whole day event :)
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+1 # ann 2014-06-03 21:11
Brilliant idea Nic.
Enjoy your new place!!
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0 # Mums Take FIve 2014-06-03 21:58
Quoting ann:
Brilliant idea Nic.
Enjoy your new place!!

Thanks Ann! x
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0 # Jodie@FreshHomeCook 2014-06-04 11:06
What a gorgeous idea! Our little ones are such collectors when we are out & about - being able to create a keepsake like this is such a fun way to remember those moments! :)
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0 # EssentiallyJess 2014-06-05 14:58
Oh this is such a cool idea! Will have to give it a go.
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0 # maša 2014-06-09 18:49
Oh, I love nature craft! I also played with it this week. :)
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