DIY Nature Weaving Wood Slices

Nature weaving is a joyous activity that helps children develop fine motor skills and more importantly, it slows the world down.

It sounds crazy but presence is sorely lacking in our children’s lives.  Screen time makes children join a fantasy world where they become numb to time and feeling. It takes our kids away from the present.

This little weaving tool is best used:

• After a big day when your child is feeling exhausted.
• To encourage your child to calm down after a moment of high anxiety or emotion.
• For play. Set it up somewhere and watch them gravitate to these wood slices.

Today, I’m showing you how to make these incredibly simple nature weaving wooden tools. They are SO simple to build for your kids. They took me only ten minutes to make!

Materials for the Weaving Wood Slices

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• A branch (or purchase wood slices)
• Hand saw
• Drill (drill bit size is optional)
• Sand paper

How to make the nature weaving wood slices

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Check out how to make them using the video or instructions below

1. Find a wide branch. Mine had a diameter of approx 15cm.
2.  Use a saw to cut the branch into thin slices. The thickness is up to you but I made mine around 2cm or 1 inch wide. 
3. Next, drill the holes. You can mark where you want the holes to be, using a pencil, but I didn’t worry too much about it. Just drill the hole where you like. I drilled holes around the inside edge of the wood slice (at least 1cm in).
4. Last but not least, give your wood slice a good rub with sand paper. Focus on the edges the most. You wouldn’t want your little ones to get a splinter while they enjoy weaving.

Now it’s time to weave with nature. Collect some vines or grass and let your children weave through the holes. You can also show them some basic sewing skills by going up through and down each hole. They’ll love learning how to sew using wood and vines!

Regularly set these nature weaving wood slices up as an invitation to play and help your children have some slow, tactile moments in the present. You won’t regret it.

Want try some nature weaving that’s a little more complex? Make these nature weaving frames using a photo frame. These are perfect for older children who may need something a little more challenging.