Fingerprint Seasons Tree: Free Printable Worksheet for Ages 2 to 4

Fingerprint Seasons Tree is a free printable art worksheet for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Children dab a fingertip in paint and press it onto each branch of a tree. Each dab helps them meet the four seasons through colour. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children print with their fingertips and talk about the four seasons. The sheet shows what each season can look like: pink blossom, green leaves, orange leaves and white snow. Children choose the paint and dab onto the branches. There is a short checklist to tick off, and boxes for drawing or notes. The grown up names each season with the child as they go.

• Spring: pink blossom
• Summer: green leaves
• Autumn: orange leaves
• Winter: white snow
• I dabbed with my finger.
• I can say the four seasons.

Setting up your seasons tree

Why fingerprint painting suits little hands

Use washable, non toxic paint made for children. Stay with your child while they paint, keep paint away from mouths and eyes, and wash hands afterwards.

Fun facts about fingerprints and trees

• Every person has their own fingerprint pattern. Even identical twins have different ones.
• Any painted fingertip leaves a mark. The tiny ridges on your skin make the swirls and lines you can see inside it.
• Blossom is made of flowers. On fruit trees, such as apple trees, the fruit grows after the blossom.
• Snowflakes are made of tiny ice crystals.
• Trees can look very different from one season to the next.

Skills and curriculum link

• Fingerprint printing
• Naming seasons
• Choosing colours
• Fine motor control
• Talking about what we see

Ideas to help you talk about the sheet

• Name the coloursSay the name of each colour as your child picks it up. Ask them to tell you which colour they want next.
• Count the dabsCount each dab out loud as it lands on the branch. This links art to early counting without making it feel like a lesson.
• Use season words oftenSay spring, summer, autumn and winter as you work. Hearing the words in a happy setting helps them stick.
• Look at real treesOn a walk or from a window, point to a tree and talk about what you can see on it today.

Key words

• SeasonOne of the four parts of the year. Each has its own kind of weather.
• BranchAn arm of a tree that grows out from the trunk.
• BlossomThe flowers that grow on some trees.
• PrintA mark made by pressing something onto paper.
• FingertipThe very end of your finger.
• DabA quick, light touch with a little bit of paint.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
2. Draw the branches first. Then name each season together before any paint comes out.
3. Let your child choose a colour and dab freely onto the branches. Talk about each choice they make.
4. Tick the checklist together. Ask your child to say the four seasons, and check against page 2.
5. Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• Which colour shall we use first? Why did you pick that one?
• What do you see on this branch?
• What is the weather like today?
• What do you like to wear when it is cold? What about when it is hot?
• Can you find a tree outside? What does it look like today?
• Which dab is your favourite?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in early learning

Before this sheet, children enjoy making marks, handling paint and naming colours. Handprints, finger painting and playing with sponges all build the same skills of pressing, lifting and aiming.

After it, children can move on to painting with brushes, drawing trees and plants, and talking more about weather and the changing year. These build towards noticing change in the world around them and describing what they see.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Fingerprint Seasons Tree for?

It is written for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Younger children will need a grown up to guide them, while older ones can choose colours and name the seasons for themselves.

What will children practise?

Children practise printing with fingertips, naming the four seasons and choosing colours. They also build the small hand movements that help later with holding pencils and crayons.

How do I use it?

Draw the branches first. Name each season together, then let your child choose the paint and dab freely. Tick the checklist at the end and use page 2 to check the answers.

What if it feels too hard?

Make it smaller. Offer one colour at a time, guide a finger to the branch and count dabs together. Try just one branch on the first go and come back another day.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group of children.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. The colour comes from the paint your child chooses, so a plain print works very well.

Does my child need to finish it in one go?

No. Children can go at their own pace and stop whenever they like. Come back another day to add more dabs or finish the checklist. Short, happy sessions work best at this age.