Froebel's Occupations Sticks, slats and lines
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Sets of fine sticks which allow children to explore the possibilities of lines.


Stick laying or 'drawing with sticks' is one of Froebel's Occupations - creative activities and experiences for young children.

"Through the Occupations, children can:

  • represent, be inventive and engage creatively and imaginatively
  • build their physical competencies
  • make links to everyday life, nature, knowledge and understanding
  • be empowered to move from the here and now to the abstract (so laying the foundations of literacy and mathematical understanding)
  • develop dispositions and attitudes that will benefit them in the adult world of work."

Prof. Tina Bruce and Jane Dyke, Learning from Froebel (2017)

Making pictures; exploring the possibilities of lines - 'drawing with sticks'


A set of sticks - as used in early years settings today.


Froebel's Gift 13 from c.1953. Image reproduced here with permission from the Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies



A stick laying sampler by Fanny Paul from the 1890s. Image reproduced here with permission from the Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies



A stick picture by Fanny Paul from the 1890s. Image reproduced here with permission from the Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies

A collection of resources and guides for educators:

Poster thumbnail

Download a free Occupations poster

First produced by Nursery World magazine, in association with Community Playthings, in 2017. This poster introduces the Froebelian Occupations. Free to download and display.

FT Empowering Learning Pamphlet 656px FRONT COVER

Play, symbols and creativity

Children's symbolic representation can be observed through a range of media - including sticks and slats. A free to download Froebel Trust pamphlet. Published in Sept 2023

Find out more about Froebel's Occupations