Stick Family

How to make your own family of sticks using what you find in the garden

What do you need?
  • A collection of sticks of various sizes
  • Natural twine or string
  • Google eyes
  • Brown or black pipe cleaners
  • PVA glue and spatula
  • Child’s scissors
  • Other natural finds (e.g. leaves) or material off cuts to make clothes

As with any activity, they will need an adult to help them.

  • How many can do this?
  • Will suit what age?
  • How long does the fun last?

This is a great way to get children out exploring with a mission. Gather your twigs and other natural finds and then head home for an afternoon crafting. The best way to get kids to really engage with the idea of this activity is to do a bit of prep work the night before, by making your own Stick Man to inspire the kids before they begin.

Step 1
Step 1

Head out for a nature hunt adventure. Encourage the kids to look for sticks of varying sizes. Keep your eyes peeled for other natural finds that you could use in your stick craft. Moss or lichen can make fantastic hair and leaves can be customised for clothes.

Step 2
Step 2

To make your first stick character, get the kids to examine the stick and encourage them to find bumps and nodules that they could use to make the character’s nose. Snap the stick so the features are at the top, and then get the kids to stick a pair of eyes above the nose.

Step 3

Next use your pipe cleaners to create the stick characters limbs. Wind your pipe cleaner securely around the stick to keep it in place. You can also use PVA glue at this stage to help it stay put.

Step 4
Step 4

Now it’s time to add clothes and a bit of personality to your character. You can either use leaves for clothes or off cuts of material. Get the kids to position these in place, tie securely with string and then for extra durability stick on with glue. Think about hair and even accessories. Encourage the children to give their character a personality or even a job to help them bring it to life.