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9 Tick activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
There are over 900 species of tick in the world, 20 of which can be found in the UK. Ticks have existed on planet Earth for over 145 million years, with fossilised tick remains found in amber dating back to the Early Cretatous period. These tiny parasitic arachnids survive by feeding on the blood of…
14 Slug activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Did you know that slugs play a vital role in our environment and ecosystems? They feed on decaying organic matter which helps with decomposition and releases nutrients back into the soil as food for plants. They also provide an important source of food for an extraordinary array of wildlife, from mammals such as hedgehogs, foxes and…
11 Squirrel activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Squirrels are small, quick, climbing mammals that play an important role in the environment, dispersing seeds and beneficial fungi, returning nutrients to the soil, regenerating forests, controlling populations of pest insects and providing a vital source of food for a wide variety of other wildlife including birds of prey like owls, eagles, buzzards and kestrels,…
11 Newt activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
There are three native species of newts in the UK and they all play an important role in the environment by controlling populations of pest insects like mosquitoes and midges (which in turn reduces the risk of insect-borne diseases), recycling nutrients back into water and land habitats, and by providing a vital source of food…
12 Aphid activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Aphids are tiny often overlooked insects that play an important role in the environment by providing food for a wide variety of other animals as well as forming symbiotic relationships with plants, animals and fungi. Often considered pests by gardeners and farmers they are actually a vital part of the food chain and healthy eco-systems,…
18 Limpet activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Limpets are amazing little ecosystem engineers that play a vital role in marine habitats. These wonderful and often overlooked sea snails spend most of their time underwater eating bacteria and algae, cleaning off surfaces and clearing space for other animals and organisms to thrive and survive. They also provide an important source of food for…
Sun science activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
All of life on Earth depends on the sun and the energy it produces for survival. The suns energy creates our heat and light, drives our weather systems and the water cycle as well as being vital for photosynthesis and the oxygen we breathe. The Sun is made mostly made up of hydrogen (about 90%)…
16 Buttercup activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Buttercups are bright and cheerful wildflowers that provide an important source of food for pollinators and other wildlife. With over 1700 species of Buttercup world wide these beautiful and prolific little wildflowers have developed many clever tricks to help them to thrive and survive in a competitive world. Buttercups are unique in having shiny petals…
25 World Bee day activities – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
To celebrate World bee day on the 20th May here are 25+ fun and simple activities that children and adults of all ages will enjoy. Did you know there are over 20,000 species of bee in the world, 90% of which are solitary bees! You may also be surprised to find that there are only…
No Mow May with Plantlife 2025 – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
No Mow May is a wonderful nature conservation initiative from Plantlife, all you have to do to take part is to not mow the lawn or any grass during May. As wildlife habitats are in decline with a loss of over 90% of wildflower rich meadows in the UK since the 1930's, it is more…
30 Days Wild 2025 + 200 Nature activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
30 days wild is a fantastic initiative from the Wildlife Trusts in which they encourage people to engage with nature and the outdoors for the 30 days of June. Anyone of any age can take part and if you sign up you can also select the option to receive a fun free postal pack, either…
12 Mole activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Moles are small burrowing mammals that spend almost all of their lives underground digging tunnels and searching for food. They play a special role in the environment by aerating soil, mixing and dispersing nutrients underground as well as improving soil drainage. They also provide an important source of food for other wildlife like tawny owls,…
14 Fossil activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
A fossil is the preserved remains, imprints or impression of a once living thing like an animal or a plant. Did you know the word fossil comes from the Latin word 'fossilis' which meant "obtained by digging" Fossils have been found on every continent in the world. The oldest fossil found to date is a…
15 Seed science activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Seeds are the amazing little vessels that carry the building blocks of life. A single seed usually consists of an undeveloped embryo of a plant alongside a store of food, both of which are protected by a outer casing called the seed coat. Many species of plants have also evolved specialized seed shapes and release…
PondNet Spawn Survey – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
The Freshwater Habitats Trust are asking people to help them map sightings of any frog spawn or toad spawn you might find, so they can gather data on the locations of breeding frogs and toads across the UK. Anyone can take part and it is free, quick and easy to do. Plus by taking part…
20 Gardening activity ideas + STEM – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Did you know that gardening and growing your own food is good for your physical and mental health? Many studies have also shown that spending time outdoors in nature helps lower levels of anxiety, stress and depression in both adults and children. It's especially useful for helping children to calm themselves down and regulate their…
17 Dandelion activities and recipes + fun facts – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Dandelions are beautiful wildflowers that provide an important source of food for pollinators. They flower early in the year long before any other plants. Bees, butterflies, and many other insects feed on the pollen and nectar, and caterpillars of butterflies and moths feed on the plants. Some species of bird even feed on the seeds.…
12 Daisy activity ideas, fun facts and recipes – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Daisies are beautiful wildflowers that provide an important source of food for wildlife. Pollinating insects like bees, butterflies, beetles feed on the pollen and nectar, earwigs and other minibeasts eat the petals and snails, slugs and mammals like rabbits and deer eat the whole daisy plant. Some species of bird even feed on the seeds. Daisies…
14 Bluebell activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Did you know over half of the worlds population of bluebells can be found growing in the UK? These beautiful, spring flowers provide an important early source of food for a variety of wildlife including pollinating insects like butterflies, beetles, bees and hoverflies. Some species of bee will even bite holes through the bottoms of…
16 Frog activity ideas + fun facts – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Did you know there are over 6000 species of frog in the world? They can be found on every continent except Antarctica. It might also surprise you to know that frogs have been around longer than the dinosaurs! Frog fossils from 250 million years ago have been previously found in Madagascar and Poland. They are…
30+ Easter activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
30 fun and easy Easter crafts, games, recipes and activity ideas, that children of all ages can explore and enjoy. From science and sensory to arts and crafts. And the best bit is that most of them are made using recycled materials you can find around the house or garden. 1. Jelly filled egg shells…
17 Daffodil activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
There are over 26,000 cultivated varieties of daffodil but only one species that is truly native to the UK. You might be surprised to find that Daffodils are NOT good plants to grow for wildlife, most commercial varieties are so hybridized (cross-bred) that they are sterile, produce very little pollen or nectar or have lost…
15 World book day activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
In honour of world book day here are 15 simple and fun book related activities to try. From arts, crafts, sensory and small world play to chemical reactions, spider web catchers, homemade scarecrows and edible wallpaper. 1. We're Going on a Bear Hunt sensory trail. We're Going on a Bear Hunt is a wonderful book…
Three-cornered leek recipes – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Three-cornered leeks (or Allium triuetrum) are an edible wild plant that belongs to the Allium family of plants, which also includes onion, garlic, leek and chives. The whole of the plant is edible which means you can eat the leaves, buds, flowers roots and bulbs. Three-cornered leeks are actually an invasive species in the UK,…
13 Nettle activity ideas and recipes – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Did you know stinging nettles provide an important source of food for wildlife! The caterpillars of several species of butterfly and moth rely on the plants for food, ladybirds lay their eggs on the leaves, bees and other pollinators feed on the nectar from the flowers and some species of bird even feed on the…
Wild garlic recipe ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Wild garlic (or Allium ursinum) is a beautiful and edible wild plant that belongs to the Allium family. Did you know there are actually over 920 species of Allium plants which also include onion, leeks and chives? Wild garlic produces beautiful star burst white flowers that provide an important early source of food for pollinators…
17 Daffodil activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
There are over 26,000 cultivated varieties of daffodil but only one species that is truly native to the UK. You might be surprised to find that Daffodils are NOT good plants to grow for wildlife, most commercial varieties are so hybridized (cross-bred) that they are sterile, produce very little pollen or nectar or have lost…
Nature art frames – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Nature art frames are really simple to make, fun to play with and create some wonderful images. They also encourage creativity and fine motor skills in children of all ages and abilities. You just need a recycled piece of cardboard, a pen and some scissors to make these. We hate to waste anything and recycling…
29 Rainbow activity ideas (Science and sensory) – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Sunlight which appears to us mostly as white light is actually made up of a spectrum of different colours which you can see when rainbows form. Rainbows appear in the sky when sunlight shining from behind us, hits the water droplets in the air in front of us at a 42 degree angle. When sunlight…
40 Spring activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Spring is a wonderful time of year to enjoy, explore and learn about the natural world, from new growth, buds and blossom of plants to animals nesting and raising young. Here are 30 fun and easy spring crafts, games and activity ideas, that children of all ages can explore and enjoy. And the best bit…
14 Lichen activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
There are over 20,000 species of Lichen in the world and they are some of the slowest growing and longest living organisms on the planet. A lichen only grows from about half a millimeter up to two millimeters a year depending on the species. However with this incredibly slow growth comes great longevity with many…
16 Weather activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Weather is something we all experience on a day to basis, it shapes our lives and world bringing life giving water in the form of rain as well as helping the plants and crops we rely on for food to grow, pollinate and spread their seeds. We really on weather to drive our natural environmental…
24 Valentines activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
24 fun and simple valentines crafts and activity ideas, that children of all ages can explore and enjoy. And the best bit is that most of them are made using recycled materials. From sensory play, arts and crafts to edible wallpaper, nature play, baking, homemade wildflower paper and heart shaped bean bags. 1. Sensory Valentines…
The Big Garden Bird Watch 2025 – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
The Big Garden Bird Watch is one of the world's largest wildlife surveys. Run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds it helps to monitor any concerning or positive changes in bird populations across the UK. Anyone in the UK can take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch from Friday 24th to Sunday…
Pine and fir tree whisks – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Whisks were always traditionally made from wood before the invention of metal and plastic. Handmade wooden whisks are surprisingly quick and simple to make and look and feel beautiful. You can use either a Pine tree or Fir tree branches to make your whisk (It's a great way to reuse old Christmas tree branches) as…
New Year Plant Hunt 2024 – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
The New Year Plant hunt is a simple fun and easy citizen science project that anyone can help with. All you have to do is explore a natural or urban area to see how many wild flowering plants (not garden plants) that you can find from Saturday 29th December 2024 to Wednesday 1st January 2025.…
25 Winter activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Winter is a wonderful time of year to enjoy, explore and learn about the natural world, from the all clever tricks animals use to survive the colder months to exploring overlooked plants and organisms and learning about the science of behind weather. Here are lots of fun and easy winter crafts, games and activity ideas,…
16 Christmas ice play activity ideas – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Ice is a wonderful material for sensory and exploratory play. Its so easy to make and you can easily add extra sensory elements like scented herbs, flavoured oils, textured natural materials and colours. Here are 16 fun and festive ice play ideas that children of all ages will enjoy. 1. Ice cube snowmen Ice cube snowmen…
8 Christmas cardboard tube crafts – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
8 simple and easy Christmas crafts you can do using old wrapping paper or kitchen roll tubes. We hate to waste anything and recycling and reusing materials is one of many small things we can all do to help the environment. So instead of chucking used cardboard tubes we like to find ways to use…
30+ Snow Activity Ideas (Science and Sensory) – Childsplayabc ~ Nature is our playground
Snow is made up of hundreds and thousands of tiny ice crystals. These ice crystals form when the water vapour in clouds becomes so cold (anywhere below 0c) that it freezes straight into ice. The microscopic pieces of ice then start sticking together to form snowflakes. When the snowflakes become too heavy under the weight…