In short

A folded palm leaf fish that children can make in twenty minutes with a single strip. Age guidance, safety notes and the exact folds, step by step.

This little fish is the craft I reach for when a child needs a win in twenty minutes. It uses one palm strip, no glue, and a handful of folds, and it comes out looking like something a market trader would make on a beach.

The fish suits children aged seven and up, or younger with an adult doing the folds. It is a lovely first taste of leaf folding, and once a child can make one they will usually make five more in a row.

Adult supervision required. An adult should cut the strip and trim the ends, since scissors and fresh leaf edges can cut small fingers. Fresh palm leaves can have sharp ribs, so check the leaf before handing it over and wash hands afterwards. This is a craft to look at, not to eat.

Age guidance and what to prepare

Children aged seven and up can fold this fish themselves once you have prepared the strip. Children aged four to six can decorate the finished fish with a marker and help choose the colours. The strip itself is the only preparation: cut it 2 cm wide and 30 cm long, and soften it for a minute in warm water so it creases cleanly instead of cracking.

What You'll Need

  • 1 fresh palm leaf strip, 2 cm wide and 30 cm long
  • Sharp scissors, for the adult
  • A bowl of warm water for softening
  • A marker for decorating the eye, optional
  • A flat table to work on

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Soften the strip

    An adult soaks the strip in warm water for one minute, then bends it gently. It should flex without cracking; if it does not, soak it a little longer.

  2. 2

    Fold the tail

    Fold the last 6 cm of one end back on itself and pinch the crease hard. This becomes the tail fin and it is the easiest fold, so start here.

  3. 3

    Form the body

    Fold the strip into a loose loop about 10 cm long, leaving a 5 cm tail. Overlap the two ends by 2 cm and pinch the overlap flat so the body holds.

  4. 4

    Tuck the ends

    Push the 5 cm tail up through the centre of the loop and pull it gently so it locks against the body. This is the fiddly part; a little patience here makes the fish solid.

  5. 5

    Make the fins

    Split the top edge of the loop into two short flaps and fold them outward. These become the side fins and give the fish its shape.

Hands folding a green palm strip into a fish shape on a table
The tail fold comes first, because it is the easiest and sets the shape.

If it goes wrong

The most common problem is a fish that springs open, which almost always means the tail was not tucked far enough through the loop. Pull the tail through another 1 cm and pinch the overlap again. If the strip cracks, it was too dry; a fresh strip from the same leaf will fold without any trouble, so keep a spare or two ready.

Helpful Tips

  • Make the fish with the strip still slightly damp; it holds a fold far better.
  • Use a marker to add an eye once the fish is dry, not before, or it will smudge.
  • Make a shoal of five in different sizes and hang them on a length of thread.
  • Keep spare strips ready, because children usually want to make several at once.

Everything cut and ready to fold

Our kids kit comes with pre-cut palm strips and a picture guide for the fish and four other animals.

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