The Surprise Accordion Garland

Step by step

1. 1Prepare: paper strips, scissors (for you), and crayons (for your child).
2. 2Fold the strip accordion-style right in front of your child, slowly, counting the folds out loud.
3. 3Cut out a little person or a tree, building up the suspense ("Wait for it... big surprise...").
4. 4Let YOUR child unfold it: this is THEIR moment to watch the chain burst open in their hands.
5. 5Let them draw faces and outfits on each silhouette, then choose where to hang the garland.
6. 6Repeat as often as they like with different shapes. Around age 4 to 6, they will fold and cut on their own.

What it builds

From a few simple cuts emerges a whole line of identical figures: pure magic that introduces symmetry and repeating patterns with wide eyes. Making them alone will come later; right now, it's all about wonder, and that's where everything begins.