Are you looking for some crafty activities this autumn? Then you will adore these fun projects with conkers for kids.
Collecting them is a wonderful experience and a tradition for many during the autumn months, but the fun doesn't have to end there. If you're looking for some inspiration on what to do with your conkers once home, here are some of our favourite things to do:
Play conkers
Conkers is an old school activity that's been around for donkeys. Simply drill a hole in one and pull a string through, tying a knot at the end. The goal is to smash one another's conker by hitting them back and forth.
Conker and spoon race
Save your eggs for mealtimes and use the seeds of the horse chestnut tree instead. Just like when having an egg and spoon race, line up participants and place one on a spoon. The first to cross the finish line wins.
Marbles
Using a piece of chalk, draw a circle on the ground and place some conkers inside. Then have the smallies line up and let them take turns rolling their conkers towards the marking, to try and knock the conkers out of the circle.
Make conker animals
With a drill, make a hole in five or six conkers before threading each one on some coloured pipe cleaners to make a caterpillar. Alternatively, make spider legs with the pipe cleaners, using the conker as the body.
Practice counting
Let's be honest, kids hate homework, so next time they complain about having to count - whip out a box of conkers. For preschoolers and toddlers, use the conkers to count either freehand or by putting them on top of numbers drawn on a piece of cards.
Make jewellery
Let the littles paint their conkers in an array of different colours, and decorate with biodegradable glitter and small beads. Once dry, drill a hole in each one and let them make friendship bracelets, necklaces and whatever else they can think of.
Play target
Using recycled tins from beans or peas, set up a game of target for the kids. Give each container a value, then add up the points as the kids knock them off a wall using the ones you have collected.
Make a wreath
Get crafty at the kitchen table by making an autumn-inspired wreath. Cut a piece of card to shape, glue some fallen leaves, then add your horse chestnut seeds to the masterpiece. Larger ones may need to be weaved in. To do that, drill a hole and string them through the card before hanging.
Make a hedgehog
Using a metal skewer, dig a hole inside a conker. Next, add some cocktail sticks into the holes to make the spikes. To finish it off, use a paint pen to draw on the eyes or glue on some wibbly-wobbly eyes.
Make a sensory bottle
Conkers are excellent accessories for sensory play. Add them to a sensory bin, messy play tray, or for small babies make a sensory bottle. Creating a sensory bottle allows your baby to explore autumn in a safe way. Be sure the lid is screwed tightly or glued shut.
