Games and Crafts with Acorns
This material is suitable for children of all ages. These activities are ideal for those who teach or want to help a visually impaired child navigate the world around them. We use autumn natural materials for early child development.
Why do children collect acorns? They like them. Smooth, oval, and pleasant to the touch, acorns are a natural material that children gather during walks. Games with acorns or chestnuts help develop imagination, a sense of form and color, and counting skills. Acorns also serve as natural massagers. Children enjoy rolling an acorn between their palms. The sharp ends of acorns enhance fine motor skills by stimulating the nerve endings in their fingertips. Finger massages help in speech development. The sensitive points on fingertips send signals to the speech centers in the brain.
Finger Self-Massage: A Unique Tactile Gymnastics
Exercise 1: Using the fingertips of one hand, “screw” the acorn into the center of the palm of the other hand.
Exercise 2: Gently press the acorn along each finger, then make circular motions with the acorn in the palm.
Exercise 3: Place the acorn in the center of the palm, squeeze and release the fingers, then switch hands.
Exercise 4: Roll the acorn across the surface of the palm, from fingertips to the wrist, while the hand rests on the table.
Exercise 5: Roll the acorn along each finger, from the tip to the base, pressing lightly on the finger.
This type of massage is beneficial for developing fine motor skills and tactile sensitivity. Finger massages can boost speech development, prepare the hand for writing, and stimulate the brain’s speech centers. Natural materials, such as acorns, can be a treasure trove for nurturing children’s creativity.
Game: “Find the Hidden Treasure”
For this game, you need 3-4 plastic cups and an acorn. Hide the acorn under one of the cups, then start moving the cups around. The child must track the movements and figure out which cup hides the acorn. This game develops attention and memory.
Game: “Shop”
Acorns are the perfect material for counting. Play out a shopping scenario with the children, where acorns act as money, and the customers are the children’s toys. This is a useful game that broadens the child’s understanding of the world and develops speech.
Game: “Help the Hedgehog Prepare for Winter”
The goal is to drop acorns into a bottle with a narrow neck, helping improve finger dexterity, accuracy, and patience.
Game: “Collect into the Bucket”
Scatter acorns on the table and ask the children to gather them into a bucket. This activity improves hand-eye coordination.
When using natural materials like acorns, chestnuts, or stones, children should not be left unsupervised, as small objects can be a choking hazard.
Children benefit from creating various crafts using natural materials. Acorns are naturally attractive, with their rough caps and smooth bodies. With acorns and some clay, you can make adorable little animals. Acorn crafts are not just for children but also for adults, offering endless possibilities for creativity.
Acorns can be used to make little figures, butterflies, and other characters. Combine them with clay and dried leaves for a charming effect. Acorn crafts are simple to make and look impressive. One of the advantages of working with acorns is their durability and longevity. Acorn crafts can become toys and even characters in stories or plays, for which you can also come up with scripts together.