A little paper for big imaginationsMade for grown-ups & little ones
Ready Play Days

Play starts here.

Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.

Art · The activity desk

Seahorse curl picture

Draw a seahorse with a curled tail and colorful patterns.

Let's play →

A little plan for play

Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →

What you need

Paper and large child-appropriate crayons.

Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.

Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.

Set up: Place paper and crayons on a stable table.

Adult's role: Stay beside the child and offer to draw a simple outline if wanted.

Let's make it happen

  1. Draw a small head with a long snout above a curved body.
  2. Curl the bottom of the body into a tail and add an eye and fin.
  3. Add dots or stripes, choose colors, and draw water plants nearby.

Make it simpler: Color an adult-drawn seahorse and trace its curled tail.

Clean up: Put away the crayons and save or recycle the picture.

Observe live animals without touching them or tapping on tanks.

Browse all activity pages