Make a DIY winter fairy garden with the step-by-step DIY instructions below and invite children to engage in small-world imaginative play with this frozen winter wonderland. Pretend play allows children and adults to flex their creative muscles and develop their imaginations.
This DIY winter fairy garden small world can provide hours of unlimited imaginary play for a young child, and are just as enjoyable for adults. Like most DIY fairy gardens, instructions for this frozen winter wonderland include elements that can help children develop fine motor skills, stimulate the sensory system, improve literacy, build an active imagination, and provide a safe place for kids and adults of all ages to calm down, and learn to self-regulate.
Also like most fairy gardens, this winter wonderland small world makes a lovely addition to your DIY home and garden decor. But unlike most fairy garden ideas, this fairy winter wonderland does not contain live plants or soil. Instead, this winter-themed small world or miniature play garden contains twig winter trees and is filled with sparkling white play sand or Epsom salt snow! (Or make a beach fairy garden for a summer-themed small world, click the link for the step-by-step DIY project tutorial.)
First published on December 3, 2015; this DIY winter mini garden tutorial is regularly updated and republished to improve the content. Scroll down to learn more about this magical winter play garden and how to make your own, including a few important safety tips for parents and teachers. You might also enjoy this list of open-ended toys for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners.
Fairy Garden Winter Wonderland Small World Play
While some forms of imaginative play are larger than life, fairy gardens like this winter wonderland small world offer a gorgeous miniaturized version. Often used for enjoyment, relaxation, and play this winter small world can provide hours of entertainment along with several educational and mental health benefits for both the growing child and the maturing adult. You might also enjoy this list of winter art projects and painting ideas for kids.
What is a small world?
A “Small World” is a beautifully crafted scene encapsulating a tiny, self-contained scene or landscape. Much like a fairy garden, small worlds are most often created using different figurines or seasonal elements, such as the winter wonderland shown in the photographs, and are meticulously designed to create enchanting and imaginative landscapes on a small scale.
Dollhouses are probably one of the most classic and well-known forms of small-world imaginary play. Like a dollhouse, this small winter world filled with winter fairies and other whimsical winter seasonal elements provides a means for the imagination and senses to flourish. Our daughter spends hours playing with her tabletop fairy garden on cold dark winter days, chittering and chatting with her fairy friends.
Best of all, a winter fairy garden or small world can include several different elements in addition to or instead of the fairies shown in the photographs. Woodland animals are another lovely option that most boys and girls enjoy. Have a look at the DIY winter fairy garden craft supplies below for several more excellent ideas.
What is the difference between a Small World and a Fairy Garden?
One of the biggest differences between a fairy garden and a small world is that most fairy gardens contain soil and live plants, while most small-world DIY projects do not. Fairy gardens are often made as artistic DIY projects, utilizing materials like soil, rocks, plants, figurines, miniature accessories, and other seasonal elements that bring these tiny microcosms to life.
While this winter wonderland small world contains several of these elements. It does not include any real soil or plants. However, like a fairy garden, most small worlds can serve as a means of self-expression, artistic endeavor, or therapeutic creations.
Commonly used for decorative purposes, pretend or dramatic imaginative play, or as a meditative source of relaxation and inspiration, both fairy gardens and small worlds (such as this winter wonderland) can transport us to a magical realm where creativity can flourish, and one can momentarily escape the demands of the everyday world.
Because most fairy gardens also allow for small-world imaginative play, both fairy gardens and small worlds offer an imaginative element to them. Even if they are never to be touched. Believe it or not, the imagination can best be developed without the use of the hands, physical play, or even the use of one’s sight.
All definitions aside, my daughter thinks the whimsical pony bead winter trees and fairies included in this winter wonderland small world make it just as appropriate to call it a winter fairy garden. If you are interested in learning more about DIY fairy gardens that include live plants and soil, look at THIS step-by-step tutorial to learn how to make a fairy garden using all sorts of various containers, beautiful fairy accessories, and other types of miniature figurines.
How is this Fairy Garden Different from most DIY Miniature Gardens?
Like most fairy gardens, this fairy winter wonderland small world includes sensory play elements and fine motor activities and canenhance literacy skills. However, unlike most miniature gardens, this winter fairy garden does not require live plants or soil as most do. Instead, invite children to decorate pony bead winter trees and play with sparkling white play sand or Epsom Salt snow!
Epsom salts have an outstanding sensory quality to them. They can be used for various sensory play toys and activities, such as this winter wonderland fairy garden, but precautions must be taken to ensure their safety. Especially if toddlers, preschoolers, and other young children who are still mouthing objects, or children with special needs, will be playing with them, or anywhere near them for that matter. Have a look at the list of safety tips in the next section before allowing kids to play with Epsom Salts.
My daughter loves playing with Epsom Salts so much, that I caught her playing with her bare feet in her fairy winter wonderland not once, but on several occasions. As I kept a watchful eye on her from nearby, she put it on the floor and put her bare feet right into it moving them gently here and there. Because I understand the benefits of barefoot sensory play, I allowed her to continue without disturbing her. However, it was a pretty funny sight, so I let out a small secretive giggle, and thankfully, she didn’t make too much of a mess!
Are Epsom Salts Safe for Children to Play with?
Epsom salts are generally considered safe for sensory play toys and activities when used in moderation. However, to ensure their safety, children must always be supervised during sensory play activities involving Epsom salts, in addition to a few other safety considerations. Please take a moment to read through the remaining safety tips on the list below before offering this winter sensory play activity with Epsom Salts to toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, or elementary-aged children. Follow the safety recommendations below. (Or, use the sparkling white play sand instead of Epsom Salts to make the snow for this winter wonderland fairy garden.)
- Allergies and Sensitivities: Some individuals may be sensitive or allergic to Epsom salts. Before using them in sensory play, it’s a good idea to perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for adverse reactions.
- Ingestion Risk: Epsom salts should not be ingested by children, as they can have a laxative effect when taken orally. Theycontain an active compound called magnesium sulfate which is commonly used as a laxative. Epson salts are not toxic unless taken in excess. So, it’s best to ensure children do not put Epsom salts in their mouths during sensory play.
- Eye Contact: Avoid getting Epsom salts in the eyes, as they can irritate. If contact occurs, rinse the eyes with water immediately.
- You may want to consider inviting children to wear safety glasses while playing with them if they are particularly vigorous in their play.
- Cleanup: After sensory play, thoroughly clean and remove any residual Epsom salts from children’s hands and bodies to prevent accidental ingestion or contact with eyes.
How to Make a Winter Fairy Garden or Small World
Making a winter fairy garden for a small world sensory play or adding to your winter DIY home decor is a delightful project for kids and adults of all ages. Creating a winter fairy garden or winter wonderland can be a fun and creative project to add a touch of magic to a children’s playroom, classroom, or another play space or location during the winter season, such as atop a winter nature table.
Best of all, you can adjust the decorations and plants according to your preferences, or the age of those who will enjoy playing with these whimsical winter creations. For example, do not include small parts, and use play sand that is as white as possible instead of Epsom Salts, if young children will be anywhere near them without supervision. Gather the winter fairy garden craft supplies from the materials list below, and follow the step-by-step DIY tutorial below to make one:
Winter Fairy Garden Imaginative Play Supplies:
- Wooden Tray – We used a tray from an old dough tools set similar to the one included with the wooden clay tools set HERE. However, awooden serving tray would also work well.
- Epsom Salts or sparkling white play sand
- Floral foam or old playdough
- Twigs and/or small branches (Optional – use them to make pony bead trees if desired.)
- Hand pruning or garden shears (Use these to trim optional twig trees)
- Mixed blue pony beads (Optional for twig trees and adding a bit of color to the snow)
- Fairy toys or other winter figurines. Buy or DIY at least one of the following winter characters and figurines:
- Fairy figurines
- Woodland animal figurines and toys
- Disney’s Frozen characters and figurines
- DIY Winter Fairy Toys (Use wooden peg dolls to make these simple fairy crafts.)
- Clay snowman crafts (Make snowman crafts with this DIY tutorial, but don’t add an ornament hanger so you can use them as snowman figurines.)
- Rhinestone pinecones(These sparkling pinecone crafts look like small winter trees and bushes in a DIY winter fairy garden. Or paint pine cones with a little white acrylic paint to make them look like snow has fallen on them, or put undecorated pinecones into the winter small world and use them as-is.)
- A little house (Buy or DIY one of these optional elements):
- Small House ceramic tealight candle holder
- Medium metal white house votive candle fairy lantern,
- Ceramic townhouse
- Small resin winter cottage snow houses fairy garden accessories
- Painted rock fairy houses
- Flameless candles or beeswax tealight candles (Optional for use as home decor but not sensory play toys.)
Related: Best Winter Art Projects for Kids
Fairy Winter Wonderland Fairy Garden Small World DIY Step-by-Step Instructions
Most fairy gardens and small worlds look detailed and complex. However, they are surprisingly easy to put together. This fairy winter wonderland is no exception. My daughter and I made this cute little winter fairy garden in less than 20 minutes on a rainy winter day. It also makes a great winter activity for a snowy day. You might also enjoy these Beach Fairy Garden Ideas perfect for the spring and summer months.
Several different toys or figurines can be used with this winter wonderland small world in addition to the fairy toys shown in the photographs; including woodland animals, or Frozen movie figurines! Follow the detailed step-by-step instructions below:
1. Gather twigs or small bare branches:
- Collect twigs and/or small branches.
- Find bare branches and twigs that have limbs small enough in diameter to decorate with pony beads.
2. Trim bare branches to look like small winter trees (optional):
- Use pruning shears to trim twigs and bare branches to look like small winter trees as shown in the photograph below.
Related: Natural Materials for Pretend Play
3. Trim floral foam or mold old playdough:
- Trim blocks of floral foam to fit, or roll 2-4 cups of old playdough into a giant fat worm the length of the wooden tray.
- Mold the old dried-up playdough or floral foam into the back of the tray lengthwise, as shown in the photograph below.
Related: Tree Stump Fairy Garden
4. Plant twig trees in the playdough or floral foam (optional):
- Invite children to place twigs trees into the floral foam or playdough.
- This is an excellent activity for developing hand-eye coordination.
5. Fill the wooden tray with Epsom Salts or white Play Sand:
- Play sand or Epsom Salts are excellent ingredients for sensory play when the necessary precautions are taken. (See information about using Epsom salts as a sensory play toy above the directions.)
- My daughter loved the Epsom Salts in this winter fairy garden so much that I caught her playing with her feet in the tray!
6. Invite children to decorate the twig winter trees with pony beads (optional)(:
- Children can continue this fun activity once the winter fairy garden is complete. In other words, once decorated, show children how to take the pony beads off the twig trees. Then, invite toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners to decorate them again and again, to help develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- We keep a small bowl of mixed blue, white, and translucent clear crystal pony beads near our fairy winter wonderland small world for this purpose.
- The pony beads often end up in the snow, where they look just as lovely as sparkling pops of color here and there.
- Please note: Pony Beads are not recommended for children under three years of age.
7. Create a winter wonderland fairy garden scene:
- Place fairy toys, woodland animals, Frozen movie figurines, rhinestone pinecones, a fairy house, or any other winter-themed figures and figures into the fairy winter wonderland small world as shown in the photograph below.
- Put a flameless tea candle into the fairy house, if it has space for one, and only if children will not be playing with it.
- Or make fairy house crafts to include in your DIY winter fairy garden.
- A few other winter fairy garden figurines and accessory suggestions are in the craft supply section above.
8. Invite children to play with the winter fairy garden small world.
- This fairy winter wonderland small world is fun to put together and provides unlimited hours of pretend play.
- Playing with it is an excellent way for children to develop fine motor skills, the sensory system, and literary skills.
- Unlike most DIY fairy gardens, this winter wonderland small world does not require live plants or soil.
- Instead, invite children to decorate winter trees with pony beads and play in the sparkling white play sand or Epsomsaltsnow!
- Make a winter-themed small world with your child that includes their favorite winter toys for even more fun!
Fairy Garden Ideas
- How to Make a Fairy Garden
- Beach Fairy Garden Ideas
- Fairy Garden in a Tree Stump
Winter Activities
- Winter Solstice Celebration Ideas
- Best Winter Art Projects for Kids
- Winter Bucket List of Fun Activities
- Stone Advent Spiral
DIY Toys for Kids
- Rainbow Colored Wooden Blocks
- DIY Waldorf Square
- Rainbow Peg Dolls
- Best Building Blocks for Kids
- Calm Down Sensory Bottles 1o1
- DIY Ringer Game
