Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Paper · The activity desk
Pop-up garden card
Make a flower rise from a folded card when it opens.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
Two sheets of paper, large child-appropriate crayons, a glue stick, and adult scissors.
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Fold one sheet in half for the card. An adult makes two short parallel cuts from the folded edge, folds the tab between them, and pushes it inward when opening the card.
Adult's role: Handle scissors, help shape the pop-up step, and supervise glue use.
Let's make it happen
- Draw and color a flower on the second sheet, small enough to fit inside the closed card. Ask an adult to cut it out and put the scissors away.
- Glue the lower part of the flower to the upright front of the step, keeping the fold free. Let the glue dry.
- Gently close and reopen the card to see the flower rise. Add a picture or message for someone you choose.
Make it simpler: Draw the flower directly inside the card and open it together.
Clean up: Close the glue stick, collect scraps, and let the card dry open.
An adult handles scissors and stays beside the child. Keep paper and glue away from mouths.