Gentle, hands-on nature learning for home-educated kids
Seasonal boxes and printables for ages 4–8, drawn by hand and made to fit around your family — not a timetable
“As a home ed mum, I like how the resources work with our rhythm.”
— Maddy
Some days my daughter will happily spend an hour outside; other days getting out the door is the whole lesson. Buttercup is built for both kinds of day. I make nature-based activities for home-educated 4–8s that are low-prep, sensory-friendly, and easy to pick up when you have the energy and easy to put down when you don't. No rigid plans, no screens required, no pressure — just simple, seasonal ways to help a curious child notice the world around them.
Nature-based activities
with learning woven in
My activities are child-led and open-ended. They are designed to fit around your own rhythm rather than a timetable. Everything is rooted in real-world wonder: a hedge, a puddle, a worm, a patch of sky. Just enough structure to support you, and plenty of room to follow your child’s interests.
Our boxes
Delivered to your door—hands-on, unplugged learning for the season
A seasonal subscription box to spark a love of the outdoors. Sensory-friendly and made with neurodivergent learners in mind — for children who thrive with movement, choice and time in nature.
“We’ve had every box this year and they just keep getting better, so much thought goes into them.”
— Rachel, home ed mum of three
Our Digital Products
Perfect for printing at home or using on the go. no WAITING.
Nature Curious as a digital subscription, or any past box as an instant download.
“We loved the download version! Easy to print and use in our own time—perfect for our unschooling days.”
— Samira, home educator
Buttercup Learning
RAISING CURIOUS, CONNECTED PLANET PROTECTORS
Everything I make is low-carbon, plastic-free, and made with care — for the planet, and for families who want learning that feels natural and gentle.
Nature through your letterbox
Four times a year, a box designed for the season lands on your doormat
Full of activities to get your child outside, looking closely and asking questions. It’s the nicest kind of post to get.
Resources
free resources FOR ALL
I’ve put as much care into the free printables as into anything you pay for. They’re here for the low-energy days, the rainy afternoons, and the weeks when you just need something ready to go.
— Aimee,
Hello, I'm Rachel — the person behind Buttercup
I'm a mum, an educator and an animation lecturer, and I make everything here myself, alongside a small team of illustrators I trust completely.
Our happy customers
Real feedback from home educators and nature-curious parents using our boxes and digital resources.
Beautiful poster, high-quality print and paper, and it created lots of lovely conversations about the different bees.
Lovely images. Suitable for young children. The animation brings a new dimension to learning making it fun for all. Excellent!
I like the poster because it tells you the different bee types.
Buttercup are doing the vital thing of bringing together technology and respect/understanding of our natural environment. All of this in a fun and captivating way for young minds to learn.
“Receiving these parcels is always an exciting day and the beautiful packaging makes it an extra treat. The topics are fab and there’s so many different activities each time that there’s always plenty to do.”
As a home educating mum, I’m always on the lookout for hands-on, engaging resources that don’t require hours of prep. The Plant and Animal Partnerships Box from Buttercup was a huge hit with my 8-year-old! He was fascinated by the ant and aphid mutualism, and the oak gall matching activity sparked loads of curiosity. He even wanted to take our magnifying glass out on a walk the next day. I love how the activities link so naturally to science, nature study, and even storytelling. The puppets were a lovely creative touch, and the scavenger colouring sheet helped us build in some gentle literacy too. Everything felt really thoughtful and it worked beautifully for our rhythm at home. I like that it’s neurodivergent-friendly. We’ll definitely be signing up for the next box!
What’s Inside This Season’s Box?
Peek inside the summer box
balancing their love of digital with outdoor adventures.
A season's worth of child-friendly science, crafts and outdoor activities for 4–8s — from leaf identification and flower pressing to rockpool life, butterfly feeders and bat spotting. Inside, children can make a moth mask, investigate thunder and lightning, track garden visitors with a footprint tunnel, listen for grasshoppers, and find out why some flowers only give up their scent at night.It's made for home educators and nature-loving families who want simple, seasonal ways to learn outdoors — no prep marathons required.
- 100% sustainable education
- 100% plastic free
- 100% beautifully made by peoplel
— Louise, home educating parent of 2
The Nature Curious Club
A home ed nature co-op, without leaving the house
Subscribe and you’re also welcome in the Nature Curious Club — a friendly online space to share ideas, ask questions, and connect with other families bringing their learning outdoors. Somewhere to feel a bit less alone on the harder weeks.
Free resources and learning
from my buttercup world
Curious About Nature Podcast
I sit down with teachers, beekeepers, tent-sharers and other lovely people to talk about outdoor learning, mindfulness in nature and living more gently on the planet.
The Buttercup
Blog
Scavenger hunts, nature play, mental-health-friendly ideas, interviews with eco heroes, and plenty of gentle inspiration for the days you need it
The Nature Family Facebook Group
A warm, welcoming space for home educators and nature-loving families to swap stories and cheer each other on — whether you're brand new to outdoor learning or a seasoned muddy-boots family.
“The free resources alone are worth signing up for—thank you for making it so accessible.”
— Jo, parent and Forest School leader
The Nature Family newsletter
A fortnightly note from me — seasonal ideas, free downloads and outdoor prompts, with a bit of solidarity for the harder weeks. No fluff.
Supporting
