Play with Sticks: 40+ Ideas for Imaginative Fun with Kids (Free)
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Your kids can enjoy so much imaginative fun with these ideas for play with sticks.
If you're looking for frugal and creative ways to boost creativity and more, you'll love these ways that kids can use a stick for imaginative play.
Find out more about these stick play ideas for outdoor and indoor fun plus get your free printable checklist of 40+ ideas and tips!
Simple & Frugal Ways to Boost Imaginative Play
To this day, I have an active imagination - and I'm so thankful for it! I believe that being able to tap into the power of your imagination boosts your creativity, problem-solving skills, and everyday fun.
According to my mom, I always had a big imagination. She'd hear me "lost in my own world" playing with my few toys and simple objects, like spoons, pots, and pans. In fact, I even had an imaginary pony called "Shalamina" (no idea where I got that name!).
When I look back on my childhood, I think the biggest factor in building my imaginative skills was a combination of free time, very limited budget, and lots of outdoor play. We simply didn't have the space or money for a lot of toys. If I wanted to have fun, I had to create it!
I shared how I'd have a blast making mud concoctions (and other DIY mud kitchen ideas). My friends and I also spent hours outside whenever we could. We built forts that became imaginative play centers. I grew up in the Pine Barrens of South Jersey so our backwoods was full of pine trees, mountain laurel, and wild huckleberry bushes.
Naturally, we used a ton of nature items as part of our play. And sticks were a big part of our fun!
I'm so thankful that my boys seem to have inherited my love of imaginative play. When my two younger boys were recently outside playing, I saw them carefully selecting "magical wands" out of a pile of sticks for a bit of Harry Potter fun. They inspired me to share these 40+ ways that kids can play with sticks for imaginative play.
Learn More About This Free Printable List of Ideas for Play with Sticks
This free printable pack has 40 imaginative ways for kids to play with sticks.
You'll find 3 pages (1 cover page and 2 pages with checklist of ideas).
The ideas for play with sticks includes prompts for:
- Sword
- Wand
- Fishing pole
- Limbo stick
- Microphone
- Telescope
- Flagpole
- Catapult
- Tent pole
- Fairy wand
- Tightrope
- Obstacle course
- Baseball bat
- Drumstick
- Javelin
- Archeological tool
- Puppeteer's rod
- Balance toy
- Limb for a scarecrow
- Maze marker
- Picture frame
- Ninja staff
- Goal post
- Horse's rein
- Architect's tool
- Dance prop
- Picture prop
- Drum major baton
- Bridge
- Firefighter's hose
- Treasure map pointer
- Planting tool
- Rainstick
- Giant pencil
- Ninja weapon
- Carrot for a snowman's nose
- Goal marker
- Lightning rod
- Ninja nunchucks
- Storyteller's prop
Creative Ideas for Making the Most of Imaginative Playtime
Want to help your kids take their imaginative play to the next level? Here are a few tips and tricks that I've used with my boys:
- Allow plenty of time (whenever possible): I know it's not always easy to have hours for free play. Busy lives and erratic schedules can make it tough. When you can, however, give your kids the gift of extra free time.
- Use the ideas for play with sticks that I've shared to spark activity - and then let your kids go.
- Set expectations: As much as it's awesome to let imaginative play unfold, certain expectations need to be made clear, like respecting others, safety, and where play is allowed to happen (for example, within a specific distance or area).
- Encourage your kids to extend the ideas and come up with their own. Brainstorm ways to play with sticks and add to the back of this printable checklist.
Get Your Free Printable List of 40+ Ways to Enjoy Play with Sticks
High five! You're on your way to helping your kids have so much fun playing with sticks!
This FREE printable list of 40 ways to enjoy imaginative play with sticks is on 3 pages (1 cover page with 2 pages of ideas and prompts).
You can print as many copies of this list as you need to enjoy with your homeschool, classroom, or co-op. If you have co-workers or friends who may like to use these free printables, please share this post. Thank you for your cooperation and sharing!
To get this FREE printable list of ways to play with sticks, subscribe to Rock Your Homeschool with your email address.
You’ll receive an email with a PDF file plus a password to open the Subscriber’s Library to all RYHS freebies. Email Amy at rockyourhomeschool@gmail.com if you have any problems!
Oh, and you’ll also get emails with ideas, resources, and encouragement to make life and learning fun 🙂
(Hey hey! Current RYHS members just need to access the Subscriber Freebies page and enter the password in your welcome email.)
What are some of your ideas for fun ways that kids can play with sticks? Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post 😊
