Note this post includes affiliate links to some supplies for easy kids activities that we enjoy. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
I am always on the lookout for fun and easy kids activities, so when I saw these little people-shaped craft sticks on Amazon, I decided to get them to add to my emergency craft supplies stash. I have a drawer in my room where I store things like this that I can pull out on a rainy day when I need a break, and I try to keep something in my bag for the kids to do while we’re out.
I threw a bunch of these (enough for each child to decorate two, plus a few extras in case we were around friends who also needed something to do) in a zip lock bag in my purse along with a box of crayons, where they stayed until we were out and I needed the kids to sit and wait quietly. They were thrilled to find this activity, and I loved seeing how they decorated their sticks! Lily has always had a very unique artistic style, and that shows up with her two guys on the left. Johnny drew Batman and a villain for Batman to vanquish. Batman gets a front and a back, but the villain has two faces. Lily and Emma drew different people on the different sides of their sticks.
The best part of this activity is that, once decorated, they continued to play quietly with their little people. I love crafts that double as toys!
What are your favorite on-the-go kids activities? My kids love sticker mosaics, our zoo babies Toob, and paper and crayons.
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Those sticks are precious! Great activity! We have made stick people with regular sticks…but OH this is so much better!
I was so excited to find these sticks! The kids have really enjoyed them.
These are so cool! I’ve never seen people shaped sticks.
What a great idea! There are TONS of ways you could play with these – make them community helpers, act out stories from the bible, etc. I love it!!
Aren’t they cool? I was really pleased to find them!
Your stick puppets are adorable! My kids loved making them too but they did not tend to put on puppet shows with them. They never really did that; too shy I think!
My kids probably wouldn’t put on a show for strangers, but they will happy play with them together :)
What a fun shape for craft sticks. These could provide hours of learning fun!
Aren’t they cool? I was so excited to find them!
I love stick puppets and these people shaped craft sticks are awesome! I never even knew such a thing existed!
I didn’t until I stumbled across them on Amazon – that’s why I *had* to write this post!
This is great, and I love how your kids decorated using non-messy crayons, and then plunged into imaginary play!
The villan is especially clever… aren’t they all two-faced in one way or another?
Great point about two-faced villains! This was a very rewarding low-mess craft for us – the kids are still playing with their puppets, several days later!
Nice idea! I also like how the craft becomes a toy that they can play with after.
Crafts that become toys are my favorite!
Love it. I love that after they create their people, they can then create a story. I’ve pinned to my We Love Puppets Pinboard (yes, I have a puppets pinboard). :)
Thanks, Jennifer! I LOVE that you have a We Love Puppets Pinboard!
Simple, open-ended and the kids supply the cute , , , just my style! I want a set of these to take to our kids in Cambodia! Heading over to look at them now.
We always carry a journal / drawing bag. Each of the kiddos have a inexpensive spiral and colored pencils. Those two supplies have kept them busy for years. And then we get to keep the spirals has a keepsake. They even include drawings from Grandpa, cousins, friends and kids we meet here and there.
Love the idea of a journal/drawing bag!
This is so fun, I would like to play with these as well :) we still don’t have a favorite activity for on the go…
I love this, especially how different their little people are. It could also make a great class or a birthday party activity.
Yes, these are perfect for group crafting!