Pressed Leaf Prints
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Description
Collect leaves from outside, slip them under a sheet of paper, and rub a peeled crayon over the top to reveal the leaf's shape and vein pattern. Each leaf prints differently - a simple activity that rewards looking closely.
What to prep
- leaves
- paper
- crayons
- flat_surface
Play guide
- 1Go outside with your child and collect 4-6 leaves of different shapes and sizes. Bigger leaves with distinct veins (like jacaranda, maple, or any broad garden leaf) give the clearest prints. Avoid very thin or delicate leaves.
- 2Bring the leaves indoors and lay them flat on a hard surface with the bumpy vein side facing upward.
- 3Place a sheet of plain white paper over a leaf. Hold the paper still with one hand.
- 4Remove the crayon wrapper and rub the flat side of the crayon firmly across the paper in long even strokes. The leaf's outline and veins will appear.
- 5Lift the paper to reveal the print. Let your child choose the next leaf and the next colour.
- 6Make a collection - use multiple leaves on one page to create a pattern, or keep each leaf print separate and label it together ("this is the round one from the big tree").
Success signals
Your child rubs the crayon firmly enough to produce a recognisable leaf outline without prompting. They notice specific features - "there's a line here" or "that's the pointy bit". They choose the next leaf or colour without waiting to be asked
If it's tricky
The print is faint because the leaf is thin: Choose thicker leaves. The print is faint because of soft rubbing pressure: Show the child how to press firmly. The print is faint because the crayon is still wrapped: Use the flat side of the crayon body, not the tip, to make the print. The leaf keeps sliding under the paper: Place a small piece of rolled tape under the leaf to hold it to the table. Your child loses interest after one or two prints: Set up a matching game - print the leaf first, then hold up the real leaf next to the print to compare