Spring Waldorf Hand Kite

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Ella has loved her Waldorf hand kite since I first made it for her two years ago, and for a simple, homemade toy, it’s surprising how well it has held up and how much play it still gets! (I’ve only had to replace one ribbon!) For a special Spring treat, I thought we’d change out her fall-coloured ribbons to make a Spring Waldorf Hand Kite.

Waldorf Hand Kites are simple homemade toys that bring a bit of magic to your child's dancing and jumping about - just swap out the ribbons whenever you need a change

DIY Spring Waldorf Hand Kite

A Waldorf hand kite is a simple wooden ring with ribbons attached that children can dance or run around with and watch the ribbons floating around them and dancing in the wind. (They are also called wind rings, hand wands or ribbon rings.)

The Waldorf tradition prioritizes wooden, natural toys that are open-ended for creativity, allowing children to use their imaginations to repurpose their toys in a variety of ways. While we’ve opted for Montessori education for our daycare, I love the materials and stories that go along with Waldorf and still incorporate many Waldorf ideas into our lives.

(Some of our favorite Waldorf story books include the seasonal collection put out by Wynstones Press and anything by Elsa Beskow. Many Waldorf parenting books prioritize connection and attachment-style parenting and have been wonderful resources for me as well.)

A simple homemade toy, Waldorf hand kites are perfect for toddlers or preschoolers to dance and jump around, watching the ribbons float and cascade around them

A Waldorf hand kite is incredibly easy to assemble and makes a great homemade gift.

This Spring version would be great for an Easter basket or to celebrate the first day of Spring!

Ella grabs her hand kite almost anytime we go for a walk, especially if we go somewhere that she can run and dance around a bit. The ribbons from the Spring Waldorf Hand Kite float magically and loop and cascade as she dances about with them – even in the hallway, it was really hard to get a good picture of a (chocolate-fueled) Ella showing off her creation! She just can’t help but dance and jump around with it!

Because the wooden rings are so sturdy, you can do what we did and just swap out the ribbons whenever your child wants a bit of change (or the ribbons get ratty from wear and tear).

You can change out the ribbons for your Waldorf Hand Kite in so many different ways — different coloured ribbons, pom poms on the end, character ribbons, jingle bells securely sewn to the edges, etc.

We’ve since made ribbon streamers using painted sticks, a winter ribbon wand, and a Christmas version of our hand kite. There are so many ways to adapt this simple concept using materials you have on hand or to celebrate any occasion.

polishing wood practical life tray -- for making your own diy waldorf hand kite for spring

Even though Ella had taken good care of her Waldorf hand kite, it still needed a bit of a scrub.

We first took off the ribbons, and then scrubbed the wooden ring (purchased from Etsy) with a bit of dish soap, water, and a vegetable scrub brush. (I’ll post the Practical Life Lesson for polishing wood soon!)

After letting the ring dry, I then had Ella polish it back to it’s previous glory with a bit of coconut oil. I usually mix my wood polish 1 part beeswax to 2 parts coconut oil, but this was a bit of a spur of the moment project. (The beeswax adds a bit of sealant and water protection, but I’m not too concerned as we’ll probably change the ribbons out again in the summer.)

We then picked out four Spring-coloured ribbons and securely tied them to the ring — another great practical life skill!

How to make a Waldorf Hand Kite for Kids

Materials Needed for DIY Spring Waldorf Hand Kite:

How to Make a Waldorf Hand Kite:

Simply polish your wooden ring with coconut oil or a homemade wood polish.

Allow the ring to dry for a couple of hours, attach your chosen ribbons to it. Tie them securely so they don’t come off and create a safety hazard (or create frustration if they were to blow off from the wind).

Have your child hold the wand out at their shoulder level – the ribbons should be no longer than this, and can even be cut as short as arm-length.

 

Pin this Spring Craft for Kids:

Quick and easy Spring craft for kids that uses Montessori Practical Life skills to make. This DIY Spring Waldorf Hand Kite is a great homemade toy for kids, perfect for a homemade Easter gift

Grab our free printable for this simple Waldorf Hand Kite craft:

Yield: 1 Hand Kite

Spring Waldorf Hand Kite

A simple homemade toy that kids can swirl and dance about with, watching the ribbons float around them.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $3

Materials

  • Wooden ring
  • Ribbons

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Coconut oil or natural wood polish

Instructions

  1. Simply polish your wooden ring with coconut oil or a homemade wood polish.
  2. Allow the ring to dry for a couple of hours, attach your chosen ribbons to it. Tie them securely so they don't come off and create a safety hazard (or create frustration if they were to blow off from the wind).
  3. Have your child hold the wand out at their shoulder level - the ribbons should be no longer than this, and can even be cut as short as arm-length.

Pin this Project for Later

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

I hope you enjoyed this DIY Spring Waldorf Hand Kite tutorial — it’s a great Spring craft to do with kids and you can work in those Montessori Practical Life skills at the same time!

Check out some of our other handmade toys, such as our DIY Rapunzel Braid or our Madeline Story Box.

 

Quick and easy Spring craft for kids that uses Montessori Practical Life skills to make. This DIY Spring Waldorf Hand Kite is a great homemade toy for kids Waldorf Hand Kites are simple homemade toys that bring a bit of magic to your child's dancing and jumping about - just swap out the ribbons whenever you need a change Quick and easy Spring craft for kids that uses Montessori Practical Life skills to make. This DIY Spring Waldorf Hand Kite is a great homemade toy for kids, perfect for a homemade Easter gift

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18 Comments

  1. I love this! I’m a sucker for spring colors and that wooden ring is worthy of a gasp it is so cute and perfect for little hands!!!! xox

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