Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Art · The activity desk
Sandcastle shape and count
Arrange broad paper shapes into a sandcastle and count its flags.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A background sheet, colored paper, a large child-appropriate crayon, and a non-toxic glue stick.
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: An adult prepares a few broad paper rectangles and triangles.
Adult's role: Stay beside the child, handle glue, and collect small scraps.
Let's make it happen
- Arrange rectangles as castle walls and triangles as tower roofs.
- Ask an adult to add glue, then press the shapes onto the background.
- Draw flags on the towers and count them together; add waves or a doorway.
Make it simpler: Arrange two large rectangles and draw one flag together.
Clean up: Close the glue stick and recycle loose paper scraps.
Keep paper and glue out of mouths and supervise younger siblings.