Bushland Flora Sand Mandala

Looking for a colourful, creative activity that develops focus, concentration and the three p’s (persistence, practice & patience)?

As Early Childhood Educators, we are always looking for ways to develop these skills and our Sand Mandala activity ticks all the boxes. We developed our mandala as an extension activity to our book, Flora & Rainbow Hopping Bug. Our book is about managing emotions (eg. frustration) and learning to let go of something you love. The nature of making a sand mandala brings these concepts to life!

Who is this teaching resource for? Teachers, Educators and Mental Health Professionals

Can you use this at home too? Yes absolutely. This isn’t just a teaching resource, it is also something to be enjoyed by families too. We set ours up at the dinner table and use our sand mandala whilst dinner is cooking - it’s a great way to foster dinner time conversation.

What is the age range? Children (ages 3+)

What skills does it promote? Mindfulness, focus and concentration, fine motor, *3 P’s (persistence, practice, patience), self-regulation, creativity and collaboration.

Will my child get it straight away? NO and that is the point of it. It will take time, and lots of attempts to get it right. It is best to set it up where it can be kept out and revisited throughout the day. In time, you will see your skills will improve.

What can I do with the left over sand? Spread it thinly onto a tray or a piece of white paper and the using a pencil, create patterns/letters/numbers in the sand.

Top tips? Take small pinches of sand. The closer you are to the mandala, the better. You can also use tools from the kitchen (spoons, old squeeze bottles, etc)

Enjoy!