# Jellybean Bush (Inspired by "My Garden" by Kevin Henkes)
> After reading Kevin Henkes' "My Garden", kids glue fresh leaves and jellybeans onto a sturdy cardstock bush cut-out to grow their own jellybean bush. It's a 3-step toddler craft that builds fine motor skills and color naming.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/spring-crafts-fine-motor-activity-jellybean-bush-inspired-by-my-garden-by-kevin-henkes/
- Ages: 2–5 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 20 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: fine-motor, color-recognition, counting, book-extension, nature-exploration
- Cautions: food-dye, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 sheet Cardstock paper
- 1 piece Thick cardboard (household)
- Jelly beans
- Fresh leaves (household)
- 1 piece Green craft stick
- 1 piece White school glue
- 2 piece Small bowls (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)
- 1 piece "My Garden" by Kevin Henkes (book) (optional)

## Substitutions
- Instead of cardboard backing: Cereal box cut to shape (Listed by the author as an alternative backing.)

## Safety
- Jellybeans are a choking hazard for young children. Supervise closely the whole time and keep candy out of mouths, especially with toddlers.
- Glued jellybeans are craft material, not a snack. Don't let kids eat them during or after the craft.
- Only collect leaves from plants you know are non-toxic, and wash hands after handling leaves, glue and candy.
- An adult cuts the bush shape and the cardboard backing.

## Before you start
- Cut a simple tree/bush shape from cardstock.
- Cut thick cardboard or a cereal box to the same shape and glue it behind the cardstock so the bush is sturdy.

## Steps
1. Read "My Garden" by Kevin Henkes together and find the jellybean bush.
2. Go outside and collect some fresh leaves. Count them as you pick.
3. Set out the leaves and jellybeans in small bowls next to the bush cut-out.
4. Adult: squirt a generous amount of glue all over the bush and smear it around.
5. Press the leaves onto the glue. Talk about their color and which plant they came from.
6. Glue jellybeans in the spaces around the leaves, naming each color.
7. Let the bush dry flat for a day.
8. Attach the green craft stick and prop up your jellybean bush.

## Tips
- I cut the bush from cardstock only, but in hindsight I would glue on a cardboard or cereal box backing first. The bush has to be sturdy, so don't forget the backing.
- We let it dry for a day before propping it up. I was afraid there would be jellybean rain.
- Hands-on activities with jellybeans don't last because they get eaten pretty fast. Spiced jellybeans worked for us because my kids are majorly spice-averse.
- Plucking leaves is a great opportunity to count.
- With only 3 simple steps, this makes a good toddler activity. Ours turned into color identifying while gluing.
- Expect some impromptu leaf balancing acts and jellybean sensory play during the craft session.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

Entertain your child with this easy Kevin Henkes' book inspired spring craft with simple materials. With my preschooler away at school all mornings I want to make the best use of the available mornings with my toddler. A one on one with my younger one seems really necessary because when big sis here, well you all know how it is when the older child is around. All the activities seem to be centered around the mature one. So my toddler and I have been reading and loving My Garden by Kevin Henkes and we came up with this easy spring craft inspired by the book – Jelly Bean Bush. The book talks about a little girl who imagines a whimsical garden where many wondrous things grow and one of which is a jellybean bush. No points for guessing which plant will eventually become a kid’s favorite part. Plant jelly beans and grow a jellybean bush! Magical isn't it? Here is what we did for this book activity which also triples as a spring craft and a wonderful fine motor activity.

- Cardstock Paper
- Thick cardboard/cereal box
- Jelly Beans(spiced – more on this later)
- Fresh Leaves
- Craft Stick (green)
- Glue

 We can’t do any hands on activities with food/snacks and jellybeans are no exception. They get eaten pretty fast. Recently I got a box of spiced jellybeans and my kids are majorly spice-averse. They wouldn’t even look at the word “spicy”. They ate a couple of beans and were immediately making a beeline for the water. Anyway it was easy to use jellybeans as counter for various activities. That’s your story behind getting spiced jellybean boxes. This fine motor activity turned into a good candidate for a toddler activity since it has only 3 simple steps. I cut out a simple tree/bush shape using a cardstock paper but in hindsight I would glue a cardboard or a cereal box cut to shape before continuing with the gluing of leaves. The bush has to be sturdy so **don't forget the backing.** Once we had the bush ready, we went out and collected some leaves.  Great opportunity to count while plucking leaves With our box of spiced jelly beans and leaves, it was gluing, talking and having fun time for mom and kid. With a generous squirt of glue smeared all over the bush cutout, my toddler set out to stick the leaves to the paper. We talked about the color of the leaves, which plant they came from and more importantly the book we are discussing.

 After the leaves, it was up to the jellybeans to come on over. Naturally she started **identifying colors** while gluing them on the paper. Both the leaves and jellybean gluing served to be a wonderful opportunity to **develop those fine motor skills.**

 

During the craft session we had some impromptu leaf balancing acts and jellybean sensory play.

 Our completed jellybean bush.

 We let it dry for day before attempting to prop it up. I was afraid there would be jellybean rain. Here is our jellybean bush spring craft ready propped up with a craftstick.

 We might have a couple of more My Garden inspired book activities coming up.

Thanks for reading

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