Autumnal treasures full of warmth and experience

Autumn has sprung! And what could be better than getting outside together, walking through the leaves, and discovering those shiny chestnuts scattered all over the ground?
An autumn walk is not only good for body and mind, but also a source of play ideas, wonder and connection.

Children have a natural tendency to collect things – pebbles, leaves, twigs... and of course, chestnuts! It often starts with slipping one or two into a coat pocket, holding them while walking, feeling them, and turning them in your hand. And by the time you get home, they've warmed up from that long holding. So small, yet so full of memories.

Why chestnuts are such a wonderful autumn material

Chestnuts are smooth, firm, and have just the right weight to fit comfortably in the hand. This makes them ideal for stimulating the sense of touch , hand muscles, and fine motor skills . Children practice—without even realizing it—their grip , coordination , and sensory perception .

Play suggestions with chestnuts:

• 1. Playing with chestnuts and sensory materials

  Combine chestnuts with sensory materials like flaxseed and let children feel, dig, and wonder. The contrast between the small kernels and the smooth, round chestnuts stimulates the sense of touch and encourages exploration. Children experience how different materials can feel, move, and react – valuable input for their sensory development and body awareness.

  Chestnuts can also be hidden in sand, soil, kinetic sand, magic clay, water beads, or shaving foam. Each material feels different and requires a new way to play: in one material the chestnuts sink, in another they float or offer resistance. This transforms every play session into a new journey of discovery, full of feeling, searching, and comparing.

  Develops: fine motor skills • tactile discrimination • finger coordination • hand strength • bilateral coordination • executive functions (attention, flexibility, working memory, self-control)

  Playing tips:

  • Have children predict what will happen: will the chestnut sink or float?

  • Combine different materials in one container and discover together what it feels like to switch between them

  • Add small scoops, spoons or tweezers for an extra motor skill challenge

  Sensory play with chestnuts is more than just feeling – it's a natural invitation to explore, plan, regulate, and wonder.

  
  
  

• 2. Casting chestnuts with stacking stones – collaboration, feeling and estimating

  Pour chestnuts over or between the Stacking Stones and see what happens! Because the stones are large and sometimes a bit cumbersome to carry, children have to use both hands to maintain balance and prevent the chestnuts from rolling out. This way, they practice bilateral coordination, strength regulation, and balance—with every move they make.

  By tipping, pouring, and aiming, children develop not only muscle strength but also their coordination and planning skills. They learn to estimate how much force is needed to move the chestnuts without spilling. This requires attention, patience, and precision – and provides plenty of motor and sensory development.

  Develops: bilateral coordination • strength regulation • balance • trunk stability • hand-eye coordination • tactile perception • executive functions (planning, self-control, working memory, flexibility)

  Playing tips:

  • Have children work together: one pours, the other catches – this way they practice timing and communication

  • Vary the quantities: what happens if the Stacking Stone is half full or completely filled?

  • Combine with water or sand for extra sensory stimulation and a challenge in dosing

  A simple game with chestnuts and stacking stones turns into a rich exercise in balance, strength and cooperation – exactly what helps young children refine their motor skills through play.

  
  
  

• 3. Rolling on a lemniscate – the art of following, feeling and connecting

  Place a chestnut on a lemniscate (the infinite figure eight) and let it roll gently. Children soon discover that chestnuts aren't all perfectly round: some roll smoothly, others falter or get stuck in the curve. This way, they playfully learn about shape, weight, and balance—and realize that small differences can have a big impact on movement.

  By tilting the lemniscate slightly or increasing the movement, children discover what happens when the slope changes or the speed increases. This kind of experiential play promotes understanding of cause and effect, stimulates problem-solving skills, and helps develop spatial awareness.

  Develops: hand-eye coordination • bilateral cooperation • visual tracking • fine motor skills • trunk stability • sensory attunement • executive functions (attention, flexibility, self-control, problem-solving)

  Playing tips:

  • Let children try different materials: balls, marbles or pebbles – which rolls best?

  • Also use the lemniscate for eye tracking exercises: let the eyes follow the rolling chestnut, from left to right and back again

  • Compare together how small differences in shape or weight affect movement

  A simple chestnut and a wooden lemniscate prove to be a powerful duo for focus, coordination and spatial insight – exactly what young explorers need to grow in motor skills and thinking.

  
  
  

• 4. Drawing with a Woody – roll, follow and relax

  Place a chestnut on a black sheet of paper and push it across the paper with a Woody colored pencil. As the chestnut rolls in all directions, winding, playful lines appear. The focus isn't on the result, but on the movement itself—pushing, following, and enjoying the unexpected trail that forms.

  For children who struggle with drawing or writing, this is a relaxing and accessible activity. Attention shifts from the pencil to the movement of the chestnut – if you lose sight of it, you lose it! This way, children unconsciously practice their pencil grip, finger guidance, and control, without any tension or performance pressure.

  Develops: pencil grip • finger control • wrist and arm stability • eye-hand coordination • strength regulation • executive functions (attention, self-control, flexibility, working memory)

  Playing tips:

  • Use white or colored paper for extra contrast

  • Let children experiment with slopes or different surfaces – this changes the pace and the line

  • Draw on a mirror or glass plate for a new sensory experience

  Drawing with a chestnut is not an ordinary drawing task, but a sensory adventure full of movement, focus and fun.

  
  
  

• 5. Balance on an anti-stress ball – playing with balance and strength

  Sometimes, something just happens to be lying next to each other... and a new game suddenly emerges! Place a chestnut on a stress-relief ball—like the Rise Cube—and see what happens. Two seemingly unrelated materials turn out to be a surprisingly instructive duo.

  Can you keep the chestnut on the ball while gently pushing or rolling it? How much can you move without it falling off? This requires subtle force regulation, concentration, and motor control. The result: a calm, almost meditative moment in which children learn to listen to the ball's movement and better manage their own strength.

  Develops: strength regulation • balance and stability • hand-eye coordination • trunk stability • tactile perception • executive functions (attention, planning, flexibility, self-control)

  Playing tips:

  • Let children experiment with different balls – smooth, stiff or soft – and feel the difference

  • Make it a duo assignment: one child pushes, the other tries to keep the chestnut in balance

  • Use a small bell or feather in place of the chestnut for extra variation in weight and balance

  
  
  

• 6. Chestnuts and silicone rainbows – roll, sort and discover

  Let the chestnuts dance across the rainbows! Children can roll them through, tuck them between them, or use the arches as a tunnel or bridge. The different heights and shapes invite them to feel, build, and experiment. While they try to determine which chestnut rolls smoothly and which stays put, children playfully practice their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.

  The soft, flexible rainbows make play extra inviting and safe. They can be bent, stacked, or combined with other materials – from a rainbow castle to a chestnut trail full of surprises.

  Develops: fine motor skills • hand-eye coordination • spatial insight • bilateral coordination • force regulation • executive functions (planning, working memory, flexibility, self-control)

  
  
  

• 7. Chestnut in a Throw Cloth – Throw, Catch and Discover

  Tie a chestnut to the center of a cloth and see what happens! Without the chestnut, the cloth floats gently downward, but with a little weight, it transforms into a veritable comet—with a fluttering tail that dances beautifully through the air. By throwing, following, and catching, children practice their hand-eye coordination, strength regulation, and timing. And if you miss the chestnut? No problem—the cloth is always there for you to grab at the start of its flight.

  The game requires concentration, cooperation between both hands, and understanding movement. Children learn to estimate how hard to throw, how the chestnut will fall, and adjust their strategy if the comet changes direction.

  Develops: eye-hand coordination • bilateral coordination • grip and force distribution • planning • flexibility • self-control

  Playing tips:

  • Make a small course and try to throw the comet exactly into a target

  • Let older children tie the knot themselves – good for fine motor skills and planning

  • Use multiple chestnuts and cloths for a coordination or turn-taking game

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• 8. Chestnuts and Wikki Stix – shapes, connects and feels

  Chestnuts and Wikki Stix: a surprising duo that sticks, bends, and keeps surprising! Wikki Stix are flexible, wax-coated threads that stick without glue—just with light pressure from your fingertips. They stick to paper, to each other, and even to chestnuts! Kids can decorate, connect, or wrap the smooth chestnuts into fun figures, towers, or fantasy creatures.

  As they push, bend, and release the Wikki Stix, children practice their fine motor skills and force regulation. They feel how the wire responds to pressure, how firmly they can pull without breaking it, and how they can work together with both hands to create shapes. And because the Wikki Stix can be used again and again, this material invites endless experimentation and rediscovery.

  Develops: fine motor skills • finger strength and hand control • bilateral coordination • tactile perception • creative thinking • executive functions (planning, flexibility, perseverance, self-control)

  Playing tips:

  • Have children use Wikki Stix to connect chestnuts together – make a “chestnut pom pom” or fantasy animal

  • Use the Wikki Stix as paths across a table and roll chestnuts along them – ideal for hand-eye coordination

  • Cut the Wikki Stix into pieces to stick patterns, faces or shapes onto the chestnut

  With Wikki Stix and chestnuts, new combinations of feeling, building and discovering are always emerging – a perfect mix of creative and motor play without the mess, but with plenty of learning fun.
  
  

• 9. Chestnut Drill and Holder – Old-fashioned crafting fun with a motor skills twist

  Who remembers those little chestnut creatures from the past? With this chestnut drill, that creative fun can begin all over again – safely, quietly, and child-friendly. The chestnut is securely fastened in the holder, leaving both hands free for controlled drilling. Then, matchsticks are inserted into the holes: four for the legs, one for the head… and the little creature comes to life!

  During this process, children practice their dexterity, concentration, and control. It requires coordination between looking, aiming, and turning—precisely the skills important for writing, cutting, and fine motor skills. And of course, imagination is allowed to play a role: from spiders and horses to a whole zoo full of chestnut art.

  Develops: fine motor skills • hand-eye coordination • strength regulation • bilateral coordination • planning and concentration • creative thinking

  Extra tip:
  Did you find any walnuts? The screw on the drill can even be used to crack nuts – another reason to enjoy gathering and exploring outdoors!
  
  

Autumn doesn't have to be complicated. With a few chestnuts in hand, you have everything you need: warmth, nature, and wonder.