Topic

Stone Stacking

What stimulates: mindfulness, wonder and wonder, questioning

Preparation and materials:

A set of flat rocks or stones

Recommended ages:

3 to 5 years

5 to 8 years

Why is this activity important?

Stacking stones develops children's attention and keeps them focused. The act of balancing stones on top of each other requires patience and determination to succeed. By developing this readiness to try again, a child's sense of resilience is stimulated. It supports them during difficult times in their lives, helping them to cope with stress, and feeling lost and disconnected from those around them.

How can you do that:

FOR AGES 3-5 AND 5-8 YEARS:

1. Get out and walk in nature with your child. Absorbing all that the senses have to offer; our smell, sight, taste, touch, hearing. Find a collection of flat rocks or stones and gather them in one place.

2. After collecting flat rocks, explain that you are going to build structures with the rocks. Start by choosing rocks for yourself and balance them. Encourage your child to try it too. Encourage them to keep trying, even if they fall!

3. Finish stacking rocks by talking about your pile and your child's. Note the differences between the two. Some questions you can ask are:

  • What do you notice about your rock pile and my rock pile?
  • How are they similar/different?
  • What was easy/difficult to balance the stones?
  • How do you feel after stacking rocks?

Make sure you put the stones back where you found them. Use this as an opportunity to talk about why it is important for humans to respect and care for natural spaces (to protect plants, animal habitats, have respect for other beings, etc.)

Tips on how to do this activity in a group

Get ready to go for a walk together outside of an area where children can sit and collect rocks to stack. Sit together and enjoy a moment of meditation in nature before starting the activity. If you don't have access to enough rocks for a group of kids to do this, bring recycled items such as cereal/shoe boxes, plastic bottles or egg cartons to use. You can ask children to bring recycled items from home as well. Use the recycled objects to practice creating a stack.

Activity: Stacking Stones

Stone stacking dates back thousands of years as an ancient art form. Some cultures have used stone stacking to mark a place on earth, to create structures to protect and house resources, and it can also be used to create and find balance in nature. By finding a balance, we can relieve stress and find peace. This allows the child to be aware of where they are, what they are feeling and how to process difficult or challenging situations/emotions. By equipping children with the tools to manage stress and find peace, we build their resilience and empower them to remain calm in times of adversity.

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