Nature Craft for toddlers/Preschooler: Outdoor Suncatcher

A perfect outdoor arts and craft activity for your toddler, preschooler or kindergartener is a nature suncatcher. This is a great craft for any season, easy to do and each time you make a suncatcher unique.

I first love to go on a hike with my toddler. On the hike I let my toddler/preschooler pick out leaves, flowers or anything from nature that he finds interesting. Then, once at home, we can use those items to make a unique nature suncatcher to remember our hike by.

Another great nature craft to do after a hike is to make a Sundial from rocks.

Items you will need to make a Nature Suncatcher with a Toddler

Scissors
Press’N Seal paper
Rope, twine or gardening ties
Hot Glue Gun
Nature items collected from your hike or found outside
Colored popsicle sticks

How to Build a Nature Suncatcher with a Toddler

1. Collect Leaves and Flowers from Nature

Go on a nature hike to collect items for your suncatcher. You can plan on a nice long hike out with your toddler or even just a walk around your local area/backyard. As long as you can collect a handful of different nature items.

My 3.5 year old collection of flowers and grasses

Nice to collect items that have different colors. For instance different colored flowers and even green grasses.

If you are going for a longer hike you might want to look into hiking carriers for toddlers.

2. Assemble the Suncatcher Frame

Gather four colored popsicle sticks.

If you have non colored popsicle sticks, this works too or you can first paint the popsicle sticks colors. My toddlers love painting so I’m always happy to find another thing to paint.

Use the 4 popsicle sticks to lay out a frame. Hot glue the corners of the frame together.

My 2 year old enjoyed selecting his colors for his frame

Warning: Hot glue guns are hot, watch your toddlers closely or glue outside their reach for their safety.

3. Measure and cut Press’N Seal

Measure how large a piece of Press’N Seal you will need to cover the frame. Cut the Press’N Seal out. Lay flat the Press’N Seal on the popsicle frame making a square.