Looking for screen-free activities for kids that leave room for their own ideas? At our first Twisty Kids workshop, children turned reusable wax sticks into handmade cards, cherries, masks, butterflies and even a whole island. Here are five ideas you can try together at home.
I did the craziest thing for Twisty Kids yet, and I'm still buzzing from it. We ran our very first in-person workshop: a hands-on creative play session where kids and grown-ups sat down together and built little worlds out of colourful wax sticks. No tablets. No perfect result to copy. Just a table full of possibilities.
Want more ideas for your next creative afternoon? Explore our free Creative Guide for more things to make with wax sticks.
What Is a Twisty Kids Workshop?
A Twisty Kids workshop is a guided, screen-free creative play session where children bend, twist and press reusable wax sticks into shapes, pictures and little sculptures. There's no fixed outcome and no “right” way to do it.
Our first session brought together a small group of children aged 3 to 8, each with a grown-up alongside them. We started with a quick warm-up, then let everyone explore, finishing with a show-and-tell. The pride on their faces is something I won't forget.
5 Wax Stick Activities to Try at Home
The children came up with their own creations. These simple starting points are inspired by what they made, so your child can take each idea in their own direction. Set out wax sticks, protect your work surface as needed, and supervise younger children.
1. Make a Greeting Card
One little one spelled out “DAD” in wax sticks and pressed it onto a card. It felt like making a gift, not doing a worksheet.
You'll need: wax sticks and a piece of card.
- Fold the card and choose a name, word or simple picture for the front.
- Bend the sticks into letters or shapes and press them gently onto the card.
- Add a message inside. Let your child decide how to decorate it.
2. Build 3D Cherries With Foil
This one made me grin. A child worked out that wrapping wax sticks around scrunched foil could give a sculpture structure and volume.
You'll need: wax sticks and foil, with an adult helping prepare the foil shapes.
- Scrunch foil into two rounded shapes.
- Wrap red wax sticks around each shape, pressing gently as you go.
- Add green stems and leaves. Try another fruit if your child has a different idea.
3. Decorate a Paper Mask
The children decorated their masks one careful twist at a time. Each design was different.
You'll need: wax sticks and a paper or card mask prepared by an adult.
- Lay the mask flat on the table.
- Bend sticks into spirals, lines or shapes and press them onto the mask, keeping eye openings clear.
- Make up a character and a story to go with the design.
4. Create a Little Island
One child built a whole island: land, water, details, the lot. A complete little world, planned and constructed during the session.
You'll need: wax sticks and a clear space to build.
- Make an outline for your island and add water around it.
- Build whatever belongs there: trees, creatures, boats or tiny houses.
- Ask your child who lives on the island and what happens there. Let the story guide the next addition.
5. Twist a Butterfly
There were butterflies, too. Lots of butterflies. When a child finds something they love making, why stop at one?
You'll need: wax sticks in your child's chosen colours.
- Make a short body and bend other sticks into wing loops.
- Press the wings onto the body and add antennae.
- Experiment with different wing sizes and patterns, or turn the butterfly into an imaginary creature.
The Moment That Made It All Worth It
Here's what I'll remember most: for a stretch of the session, the room was quiet. Not bored-quiet. Focused-quiet. The children were absorbed in making something with their hands, then eager to show us what they'd created.
That feeling is the reason Twisty Kids exists. Watching children explore their own ideas and enjoy the process was something else entirely.
Why I Love Open-Ended, Hands-On Play
Twisting, bending and pressing gives children opportunities to practise small hand movements. Building a scene invites them to experiment with shapes, solve little construction problems and tell stories. With no single finished result to copy, there's room for every child's ideas.
And the sticks can be pulled apart and reused for another activity. Today's butterfly can become tomorrow's car, card or tiny island.
Bring the Workshop Home
You don't need to wait for a workshop to try these ideas. Start with a reusable wax-stick play set and a little space at the kitchen table.
My pick for a first family set: the Animals Play Set. Its animal theme offers an easy starting point for making creatures, but your child can use the sticks for their own cards, shapes and scenes too.
Prefer a different theme? Explore the Vehicles Play Set for little builders or the Dreamland Play Set for imaginative worlds. Planning party activities? Take a look at the Party Play Set.
For group activities or classrooms, explore the larger Mega Creative Box.
More Ideas in Our Free Creative Guide
Save a little inspiration for the next rainy afternoon. Our free Creative Guide offers more things to make with wax sticks, so you have a starting point when your child asks, “What shall we make?”
Thank You, Joy of Giving
A huge thank you to the team at Joy of Giving for hosting our very first workshop. It was everything I hoped it would be, and it's only the beginning.
Interested in a Twisty Kids session for your early learning centre, preschool or family event in Sydney? We'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Twisty Kids to discuss your group and what you have in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can kids make with wax sticks?
Try greeting cards, butterflies, animals, vehicles and little scenes. At our first workshop, children also decorated masks and combined foil with wax sticks to make 3D cherries. Start with a simple idea, then let your child change it.
What age are Twisty Kids wax sticks designed for?
Twisty Kids play sets are designed for children aged 3 and up. Supervise younger children and check the product's guidance before play. Choose activities and extra materials that suit your child's age and abilities.
Do children have to follow the activity instructions?
No. These ideas are starting points, not rules. Children can explore simple shapes or spend time building detailed scenes. The point is to make room for their own ideas.
Can the wax sticks be reused?
Yes. Pull a creation apart and use the sticks to make something new. You can also keep a favourite creation for a while before rebuilding.
Can we try these activities without attending a workshop?
Absolutely. Explore our reusable wax-stick play sets and free Creative Guide to get started at home.
Twisty Kids is an Australian brand creating reusable wax-stick play sets for children and families.