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Playing with paper planes

Take turns to make and fly paper planes with your little one.

This can be a great fun outdoor or indoor activity, perfect for learning words for actions and distances.

Watch some families give it a go in the video below.

Why make and fly paper planes with kids?

  • Building the plan develops their fine and gross motor skills.
  • Learning how to fold the paper helps children plan and sequence information - these are essential skills for language development.
  • Making the planes together, allows them to practise following simple instructions.
  • Talking about how the plane flies helps them learn about the concept of distance and words like 'far', 'long' and 'short' and superlatives (words for the most or least) like 'furthest'.
  • It encourages early STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills as they learn through practise which planes fly best.
  • Asking them questions, such as 'Why did that one go the furthest?' or 'Why did that one fall down straight away?', encourages reasoning skills.
  • Waiting for the count of 3 or the word 'go!' to throw their plane can help build patience.
A little boy throwing a paper plane as his mums look on.
You can have fun flying your planes indoors or outside in the garden.

How to make a simple paper plane

Check out this Maddie's Do You Know? clip from CBeebies with instructions for how to make a simple paper plane. Feel free to try to make one differently if your little one has other ideas on how to do it. Why do they think it will fly well?

Make one each, that way you can have a competition to see who can throw them furthest.

Ask your child how they'd like to decorate their plane - they might want to draw on it with crayons or pencils or use stickers.

Ask them about the choices they make, what colours they want to use, what they're drawing and why.

Playing with paper planes

Once you're happy with your planes, it's time to have a competition.

Before you start, ask your little one who they think will win and why. Ask them how far they think they can throw it.

Take turns to throw your planes. You might want to count down before throwing or say 'ready鈥 steady鈥 go!'. This will help to build their patience.

Offer them plenty of praise, win or lose.

Play again and again - is there a different outcome? Do they think they know why?

More crafty activities for 4-5 year olds

A little boy throwing a paper plane as his mums look on.
You can have fun flying your planes indoors or outside in the garden.

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