Try drawing a stick trail

Stick trail drawing is a wonderfully simple and creative way for children to engage with the outdoors, no paper, no pens, just a stick and some space! Find a patch of dirt, sand, or even snow, and let your child use a stick like a giant pencil to draw patterns, pictures, letters or trails. They can create treasure maps, doodle animals, or design fairy houses and race tracks.

It's totally open-ended and encourages big, imaginative thinking. It’s also great for developing fine motor skills and early mark-making, especially for younger children. Because it’s all temporary and nature-based, it takes away any pressure to “get it right”, they can smooth it over and start again whenever they like.

It’s playful, peaceful, and gives children a chance to leave a little mark on the world, just until the wind or rain sweeps it away.