7 blossom crafts and activities for kids

After a long winter, nature is suddenly bursting into life! Have you noticed signs of spring appearing all around you? From blossom to birdsong and buzzing bees to budburst, each day brings new changes. This makes spring an exciting time for kids to explore the natural world.

We’ve got lots of ideas to inspire youngsters about one of the season’s most spectacular sights – blossom. So, dive into our blossom crafts and activities and enjoy some time with nature.

1. Draw a cherry blossom tree

Ornamental cherry trees are famous for their pink blossom in spring. Keep your eyes peeled in parks and gardens to spot pretty blooms ranging from pale pink to deep fuchsia.

Budding artists can take inspiration from this natural beauty and draw a cherry tree covered in blossom. Encourage your child to choose a real tree and study it (this is a great way to help kids develop their observation skills). Note the shape of the trunk, the structure of the branches and the colours of the blossom, then put pencil to paper! Once your child has sketched their tree, they can colour it in and add lots of flowers.

2. Try blossom finger painting

This easy art activity is ideal for tiny tots and makes a lovely keepsake. First, draw around your child’s hand and arm on a piece of brown paper. Cut it out and stick it on some card – this will become your tree. Then help your little one dip their finger into pink and white paint and dab it all over the tree to create beautiful blossom.

Older children might enjoy painting more realistic-looking blossom. Simply dab five fingerprints in a circle to create a flowerhead. If they like details, they could even draw the carpel and stamens. This would be an excellent opportunity for a mini science lesson where they research the different parts of a flower and what they do.

3. Make a mini blossom tree

You’ll need a stick for this craft – not too big, but with a few bits branching off it so it looks like a miniature tree. You’ll also need pink, white and green tissue paper and glue.

Help your child tear the pink and white tissue paper into small squares, then layer a couple of squares together and scrunch them up. (This is good exercise for little fingers as it helps strengthen hand muscles, essential for holding a pencil and doing up buttons.) Once you’ve got a pile of scrunched-up paper balls, glue them to your stick so it looks like blossom. Make a few leaves using the green tissue paper and stick these on too. When you’ve finished, pop the stick in a small vase or pot – it makes a lovely spring decoration to display in your home.

4. Create a blossom collage

Soft, scented petals are tactile and interesting to look at, so they’re wonderful to craft with. Simply gather some fallen blossom from your garden or street, then use it to make a collage at home. Youngsters can press the petals between the pages of heavy books to help them last longer, or just use the flowers as they find them.

Encourage kids to let their imaginations run wild! Will their blossom become a fairy’s fluttering skirt, puffy clouds in a blue sky, or a furry Easter bunny?

5. Stir up blossom potions

Kids of all ages love making potions. All you need is an empty yoghurt pot, a splash of water and some natural items such as fallen petals and leaves. Find a special stirring stick to mix it all together, then let the magic begin.

6. Enjoy a shower of blossom

Head out on a breezy day to enjoy this sensory activity. Simply find a blossom tree and sit or stand underneath it. As the wind jostles the branches, the delicate flowers will rain down on you. Have fun chasing the petals as they whirl around in the wind and try to catch one before it touches the ground. It’s an enthralling experience little ones will love, so don’t forget to take photos to capture the moment.

7. Have a picnic under the blossom

In Japan, cherry blossom season is a major event. It’s called hanami which means ‘flower viewing’. All over the country, people celebrate with outdoor parties under the blossom trees. There’s even a national blossom forecast to help people enjoy the blooms at their best.

Why not throw your own blossom party and have a spring picnic? Choose a picturesque spot and lay a blanket under a flowering tree. While you eat, you and your children can enjoy the colour of the blooms against the sky, feel the soft petals as they drift down around you and sniff the sweet scent of the flowers. Heavenly!