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Make a Wish Tree

Make a family wish tree, then use sticky notes to write or draw wishes and responses to one another.

  • 5 years
  • Some prep
  • At home
  • About 30 minutes
Focus
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Developmental benefits

  • Language：Writing wishes and messages on sticky notes gives your child a meaningful reason to practice using marks, letters, and words to communicate.
  • Social/Emotional：Sharing wishes and exchanging notes with you creates a warm, positive back-and-forth interaction.

Preparation

What You’ll Need

  1. 1

    Markers

  2. 2

    sticky notes

  3. 3

    cardboard

  4. 4

    scissors

Step 1

Make a Wish Tree

Invite your child to draw a tree on cardboard, cut it out, and decorate it. Leave plenty of open space on the treetop and trunk for wish notes.

What to notice

  • Uses a drawing tool to make a wish tree on the paper Fine Motor
  • Asks to make the wish tree themselves Initiative and Curiosity

Tips

  • Encourage your child to freely choose their favorite colors and shapes and be creative.
  • Make the tree large enough that several sticky notes can fit without covering one another.

Step 2

Add a Wish

Ask your child what they wish for. Invite them to write or draw it on a sticky note and add it to the tree. Write a reply on another note so the two notes become a small written conversation.

What to notice

  • Writes on a sticky note and adds the wish to the tree Print and Alphabet Knowledge
  • Eagerly tells you what their wish is Relationships with Adults

Tips

  • If your child cannot read part of your reply, read it aloud while pointing to the words.
  • A wish and a reply turn writing into communication. When your child has something real to say, marks and words have a clear purpose.

Step 3

Keep Going Toward Your Wish!

If your child wants to write but cannot form the words yet, invite a drawing or an initial letter. You can also write the word with a highlighter for them to trace. Accuracy matters less than experiencing that a message can be put on paper.

What to notice

  • Writes a message on a sticky note to help make a wish come true Writing
  • After completing an agreed step, happily adds a record to the wish tree Sense of Identity and Belonging

Tips

  • When your child completes an agreed step toward the wish, follow through on the part you promised.
  • Keep the wish tree where your family can see it. Add another note whenever your child has a new wish or wants to reply.
  • If a wish is a small goal, add a note or mark each time your child completes an agreed step.

Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026