Creative Steps

Each issue of Creative Steps includes dozens of fun ideas, with step-by-step instructions, for you to get crafty with your kids during the coming months. The projects are all designed to encourage learning through creative play and many make use of recycled household materials. Perfect for anyone caring for young children; such as childminders & nannies, pre-schools, playgroups & nursery settings, primary schools, homeschoolers, guiding leaders... and parents & grandparents! Also includes prize competitions, book reviews, fun facts and printable templates.

CRAFTS FOR ALL

Creative Steps

IT'S A GIFT

The Creation Station

SNOWFLAKE PRINTING • Make your own Christmas cards with frosty patterns.

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS MAKES

Round Robin • Make a cheerful robin for Christmas!

QUICK & EASY FESTIVE CRAFTS • Get creative with your little ones this Christmas with these fabulous activities from The Creation Station. Easy to make and suitable for both individual children and groups, these will definitely add some magic and sparkle to your setting. For more festive ideas visit www.thecreationstation.co.uk

MAGIC ICE PAINTING • Add a little winter magic to the holidays with this fun and creative ice painting activity! It’s full of surprises and colour — perfect for sparking curiosity, experimenting with materials, and exploring how water transforms into ice and paint.

WINTER GAMES FOR EVERYONE! • Beat those winter blues and banish boredom by playing some old-fashioned children’s games. Great for Christmas parties or other seasonal get-togethers.

Penguin & Snowman Masks • Perfect for a party or use during storytime

Pretend Bonfire • Bring warmth and imagination into your home this winter with a cosy pretend bonfire! Perfect for storytelling, pretend camping, or festive family fun — this easy DIY project will spark creativity and light up playtime.

DRAGON SPOON PUPPET • Take some wooden spoons and scraps of foam and turn them into fun dragon puppets. A great way to celebrate Chinese New Year!

PLUM BLOSSOM TREE • Plum blossom is a symbol of courage and hope and is used as a decoration during Chinese New Year. Make this simple version as part of your celebrations.

Valentine's Day • Make a colourful heart for someone special on Valentine’s Day

READING CORNER • Great books for growing minds

FRUITY PRINTS • Try this printing activity with a difference – cut different types of fruit in half and turn them into interesting pictures and collages.

creative PLAY AWARDS 2025 • Now in their 18th year, the prestigious 2025 Creative Play Awards Winners and Highly Commended entries recognise some of the best creative play toys, games, books and resources available in the UK, emphasising the importance of screen-free learning through creative play for young children.

An Invitation for Sustainable Crafting • Rachel Fearnley started her career as a nursery nurse in the early ‘80s. She worked in a nursery attached to a school before working in different settings where there was an emphasis on supporting families who were experiencing some form of disadvantage. Rachel trained as a social worker and then completed her PhD. Her research explored children’s experiences when a parent has a life-limiting illness. Rachel works as an independent researcher and is the founder of Rachel Fearnley Designs, a small craft business where the emphasis is on being sustainable.

DIY LEGO CALENDAR • Welcome the new year in with your own customised LEGO calendar! Celebrate your favourite stories by changing the day brick by brick and build a new story that reflects you through your desktop creation. It’s the perfect time too — LEGO Day is just around the corner this January! Start your...