❤️Let's Make a Joined Family!

The Art Room

A little craft about belonging

Have you ever noticed how lovely it feels when someone reaches out their hand to yours?

Tiger, Panda and Bilby remind us that we all belong, even though we're different in many ways. This simple paper craft celebrates the special people in our lives by creating a little family of people holding hands.

You can make your family look just like your own, or include friends, grandparents, educators and other special people who help you feel loved and cared for.

What you'll need

• A strip of paper or lightweight cardstock

• A pencil

• Child-safe scissors

• Textas, crayons or coloured pencils

• Optional: stickers and other decorations

Let's get making!

Step 1: Fold your paper

Take a long strip of paper and fold it backwards and forwards like an accordion. Try to make each section roughly the same width. The more folds you make, the more people will join hands in your family.

Step 2: Draw your person

With the paper folded, draw a simple person on the top section. Draw the head, body and legs, then stretch both arms out sideways.

Here's the important part: make sure the hands reach right to the folded edges on both sides. These hands will join with the next person!

Step 3: Cut out your people

Keeping the paper folded, carefully cut around the outline of your person. Cut around the head, body and legs, but do not cut through the folded edges where the hands meet.

The hands must remain attached to the paper folds so that your people stay connected. An adult can help with the cutting.

Step 4: Open your family

Gently unfold your paper. Look! Your little people are all holding hands!

If a hand has accidentally been cut apart, don't worry. You can make another chain and try again.

Step 5: Give everyone their own personality

Now comes the fun part! Decorate each person with different colours, hairstyles, clothes and faces.

You might like to make one person look like you, another like someone in your family, and others like the special people in your life.

You could even add Tiger, Panda and Bilby to your chain!

Let's talk while we create

As you decorate your joined family, have a little chat together.

• Who are the people who make you feel loved?

• Who helps you when you need it?

• What makes each person special?

• How can we help other people feel welcome?

Remember, every family looks different. Your chain can include anyone who is important to you.

A little Hoot Hoot reminder

Just like our paper people, we can be connected while still being wonderfully different.

We can care for one another, make room for others and help everyone feel that they belong.

There's room for everyone in Togetherwood Forest!

Happy creating, little owls!

With love from Miss Owl ❤️