Native to Australia, koalas are unique creatures who spend their lives high up in eucalyptus trees. It’s very rare to see one in the wild unless you’re in a specific state of Australia such as Queensland, but koala story books such as The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field give us an idea of what these cute critters look like and where they live. Child-friendly activities can also teach little ones about the world they live in, so here are six activities based on koalas.
 

Koala hand print 

Whether you just want to have some messy fun or want to make a special gift for a loved one, a koala hand print is ideal. To do this, paint your child’s hand in grey paint and ask them to make a print on some white card. Once dry, point the fingers downwards before adding googly eyes, a black nose and some grey ears. You can cut your picture out or turn it into a card for a special birthday or event. Children will love this activity as it involves getting messy. 
 

Create a koala play scene 

Again, if you’re feeling creative, you and the kids could make a koala play scene with the help of a shoe box and other bits and bobs you might have around the house. To start with you can paint or decorate the shoe box to look like an Australian forest. You can then make some eucalyptus trees by painting loo rolls brown and attaching some green paper leaves. Make a koala out of plasticine or get a toy koala and encourage some imaginative play.

Koala fact match game

For this, print out a selection of pictures of koalas doing different things such as eating or sleeping. Then create a host of fact cards such as ‘koalas sleep up to 22 hours a day.’ Ask your children to match the facts with the pictures. This helps to develop many different skills including memory, reading and wildlife awareness. As a top tip, laminate your printouts for future use as this will save you a lot of work if your children want to play again on another day.
 

Create a koala comic scene

Divide a piece of paper into six sections and label each box one to six. Ask your child to think of a short story and then to draw that story in each of the boxes to show what happens at each stage. This can then become like a koala comic. Get creative by adding text or colouring in pictures. 
 

Eucalyptus leaf printing

Enjoy a long walk in the great outdoors, gathering different ‘eucalyptus’ leaves. Of course, any dry leave will do but it’s all about being imaginative. When you get home, paint the leaves in different colours and make a selection of fun prints. 

See koalas on the big stage

Did you know that the koala story book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field can now be enjoyed on the stage? The Koala Who Could show is currently touring the UK, with stories about koalas like this one offering a beautiful moral message about breaking out of comfort zones and trying new things. Book your tickets to The Koala Who Could today and enjoy a fun-filled day at a theatre near you.