Spring finds us spotting the pussy willow buds on the Goat Willow, those soft silky kittens mittens! I remember finding them as a child and keeping them in matchboxes to stroke. "But why are they connected to kittens?" I am asked by a little person, well, the answer to that question lies over in Storytelling... click to open THIS in a new tab & you can listen to 'why?' while you make your pussy willow spring kittens. Little family members will likely need some help for this one but they love playing with them afterwards. Remember there's no rush!
Items required:
Pussy Willow buds (2 per kitten)
Wool - whichever oddments you have to hand and want to use up. Contrasting colours can make for fun coloured kittens - who says they have to be realistic!
Scissors - sharp ended ones are best for this, make sure they are used sensibly & not left near little fingers.
A fork.
Craft Glue - I use a glue gun in this clip (I recommend a cool glue gun for with children for safety) but you can also use usual PVA crafting glues, just expect for there to be far longer drying periods in-between attaching items & moving on to attach more. 5cm of Twine - you could alternatively also use string or more wool.
Dot of Fabric - for the nose I used pink but you can use whatever you have at home - felt or wool also works
Small Corner of paper - for the ears - it can be coloured or white depending on what you have to hand
Small Wooden Beads - or seeds or anything similar and Optional:
A Dolly-/Fine tooth- comb for brushing the kittens tails to make them fluffier
Whilst using this resource to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing by:
1) Get Active - Go out walking to hunt for the Goat Willow tree on your walks, ask on local online groups or contacts if anyone has seen one nearby. The pussy willow buds come out in early spring and are considered a sign of spring.
2) Keep Learning - check out the woodland trust website by clicking HERE to help you learn about how to identify the Goat Willow Tree.
3) Be Mindful- Close your eyes and hold the pussy willows in your hands, stroke them gently - what do they make you think of?
4) Practice Kindness- making things with family and children usually requires patience and kindness - be kind enough to give yourselves plenty of time to do them in. Younger family members love these but will require help to complete them.
5) Think Community - Certainly there will be younger members of your family wanting play with these beautiful kittens in their play! Share your creations with your community, or add them to your Easter window displays. Invite family, friends or neighbours to come and look through your window to see what you have created this year or post them online to inspire others in future!
Music: https://www.bensound.com
This Pussy Willow Spring Kittens craft sounds like such a charming and engaging activity for the whole family! I love how it combines nature with creativity and offers a great way to celebrate the arrival of spring. The idea of using pussy willow buds to make little kittens is both adorable and meaningful, especially with the added storytelling element. It’s also fantastic that it encourages a bit of outdoor exploration and mindfulness. Plus, the flexibility in materials (using what you have on hand) makes it easy to adapt and personalize.
My daughter thinks the fairies use the pussy willow to weave soft capes to fly in when it’s frosty 🥰