While trees are an integral part of life, and perhaps even your back yard, have you ever wondered what they would look like with faces on them? It's both fun and easy for kids to create a family of trees, simply by learning how to make tree faces.

Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Start The Imagination Process

This is a really fun activity to take on with your kids. First though, you have to admit they have a better imagination than you could ever hope to have. Before you begin brainstorming how to do it, ask your child what trees would look like if they had faces. Get out some paper and draw faces together and have fun with it. Is one tree a girl with a serious expression? Perhaps another one is a boy with a goofy grin. Maybe some have animal faces.

Gather Supplies

There are lots of different ways to make your tree faces. Sticks are a good start, as are leaves, acorns, and other natural items you’ll find around the yard. Rocks are ideal as well, because you can paint them in different colors. Consider pieces of moss, berries, and other items around the area. You can even use mud if you want to collect some dirt and wet it down. Give your child a bucket and go on a hunt for the items you need and while discussing how to make tree faces for the various expressions you’ve envisioned.

Find A Tree And Get Started

Choose a tree in your yard with a nice-sized trunk and start creating. Place some mud on the trunk so the other items will stick. Then, use some sticks to make a mouth and some acorns for eyes. See how close you can make the tree look to one of the drawings. If your child doesn't like the way things are going, rinse the mud off and start over. Or, move to another tree and try a different face.

Check Up On The Faces

Faces stuck on with mud can last for many days — or at least until it rains. You can check on the creations from time to time, make up stories to go along with them, or start planning new faces for when you want to make something new. This is a fun project that keeps on giving. The trees can have names and personalities and you can change them every time you make a new face, or try to make similar faces every time you go out to create.

While some might see trees as mere inanimate objects, they are in fact living beings. In coming up with a face for it, your child is giving the tree an identity to which they can relate. This leads kiddos to engage their creativity, as they imagine the “type of person” their tree would be. It also tends to make them pay more attention to nature as a whole.

Having empathy for forest life and the creatures that live there can be a great quality as your child grows. Plus, trees with faces make your yard a more fun place to play, grow, and imagine.