Fairy Houses
Fairy Houses
One of those activities that feels a little bit special, without needing anything fancy.
We made ours mostly from foraged materials like bark, grass, leaves, sticks, and whatever else the kids found around the space. Some families brought shells they’d collected earlier, and a few dug into old jewellery boxes for wooden beads and broken bracelets
Every house ended up looking completely different, and they all felt full of story.
There wasn’t really a method. Just an invitation to build something small, thoughtful, and full of imagination. Some were nestled into tree roots, others were tucked near rocks or up in branches.
The best part? Many of them were still standing a whole year later.
It’s an activity that naturally encourages care, patience and gentle hands. Kids take their time choosing the right pieces, arranging things just so, and really tuning into the world around them.
It’s slow, quiet play at its best!
You’ll need
Foraged natural items (bark, sticks, leaves, grass, seed pods)
Optional extras like shells, feathers or wooden beads
A small clear space outdoors
Imagination and time
How to make them
There’s no single way to build a fairy house. Encourage kids to start by finding a special spot… a tree base, a hollow, a quiet patch under a bush. Then they can start building walls, roofs, or just decorating a small space using their materials. Some might want to make beds, doorways or paths. Others might simply create a little resting place and call it done. Let it be as big or small as they like.
What it encourages
Imaginative play
Creative thinking and storytelling
Respect for nature and natural spaces
Focus and collaboration
A sense of wonder and care
A last note
We always talk first about what’s okay to collect. Check for ants or tiny creatures who might already be using bark or leaves for shelter. Only take what’s loose, fallen or growing in abundance, and return unused items when you can. There’s also no need to pull anything apart to make it look a certain way. Nature gives us more than enough just as it is.
