What's your favorite animation principle - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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What's your favorite animation principle?

Make a small flipbook showing squash and stretch motion using paper, pencil, and stapler; draw sequential frames to learn how shape changes convey movement.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make a squash-and-stretch flipbook

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, scissors, stapler, colouring materials, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all your materials and put them where you can reach them.

Step 2

Pick a simple object to animate like a round bouncing ball.

Step 3

Choose one or two colours for your ball.

Step 4

Cut about 20 small rectangles from your paper all the same size using scissors.

Step 5

Stack the rectangles neatly and align their edges into a small pile.

Step 6

With adult help staple the stack along one short edge to make a flipbook spine.

Step 7

On the top page draw a round ball high on the page to be your first frame.

Step 8

On the next page draw the ball a little lower and slightly stretched tall to show motion.

Step 9

On the next page draw the ball even lower and more stretched to show speed.

Step 10

On the next page draw the ball touching the ground and squashed wide to show impact.

Step 11

On the next page draw the ball rebounding and stretched again as it leaves the ground.

Step 12

On the following three pages draw the ball gradually returning to a round shape and rising back to the starting height.

Step 13

Flip the pages quickly with your thumb to watch the squash and stretch animation.

Step 14

Colour the ball and the ground on pages you like using your colouring materials.

Step 15

Share your finished flipbook showing squash and stretch on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a stapler or safety scissors for making the flipbook spine and cutting the rectangles?

If you don't have a stapler, make the spine by lining up the stacked rectangles from step 5 and clamping them with a strong binder clip or punching two holes along the short edge and tying with string, and if you lack scissors use pre-cut index cards or tear straight strips from printer paper to get about 20 rectangles.

My flipbook looks jumpy and the ball doesn't squash and stretch smoothly — what should I check or fix?

Make sure the rectangles are neatly aligned as in step 5, draw each ball's position with small consistent changes (for example follow the 'a little lower and slightly stretched' progression in steps 7–11), and flip the pages quickly with your thumb as instructed to see smooth motion.

How can I adapt this activity for a 4‑year‑old and for a 12‑year‑old?

For a 4-year-old, have an adult pre-cut and staple the roughly 10–12 larger rectangles and let them draw big simple circles and colour one or two frames, while for a 12-year-old increase to 30+ thinner frames, add subtle in-between shapes for smoother squash and stretch, and experiment with two colours or background details from the colouring materials.

How can we extend or personalize the flipbook after finishing the basic squash and stretch animation?

After colouring the ball and ground as in the instructions, personalize by adding a face or pattern to the ball, drawing a background sequence across pages for depth, combining two objects to interact, or photographing each page to make a longer digital animation to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a squash-and-stretch flipbook

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The 12 Principles of Animation Explained — The Most Important Rules for Animating

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Facts about hand-drawn animation principles

📖 Flip books (also called kineographs) were patented in 1868 by John Barnes Linnett — one of the earliest forms of animation.

🧸 Squash and stretch is a core animation principle that exaggerates shape changes while preserving an object's volume to make motion feel alive.

⏱️ Animators often work in 12 or 24 frames per second; a 24-frame flipbook flipped at 24 fps shows about one second of motion.

✏️ Animators usually draw keyframes first (the big poses) and then create the in-between frames to smooth the action.

📚 The "Twelve basic principles of animation" were codified by Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston to teach lifelike movement.

How do you make a flipbook that shows squash and stretch motion?

To make a squash-and-stretch flipbook, stack 12–24 same-size sheets and staple one edge. Draw a simple object (ball or character) on the first page. On each next page, slightly alter the shape to show motion: flatten (squash) when it hits or compresses, stretch when it moves fast. Keep a consistent baseline and light construction lines. Flip the pages quickly to check timing, then refine drawings and details.

What materials do I need for a squash-and-stretch flipbook?

You’ll need a stack of 12–24 same-size papers or small index cards, a pencil with eraser, and a stapler or binder clip to hold the flipbook together. Optional items: colored pencils or markers, scissors to trim edges, a ruler, and tape. A window or lightbox helps see previous pages (onion-skinning). For safety, use child-safe scissors and have an adult handle the stapler.

What ages is this flipbook activity suitable for?

This flipbook activity suits children roughly ages 5–12 with adjustments. Preschoolers (4–5) can do simple two-frame squash/stretch with help tracing big shapes. Ages 6–8 handle 8–12 frames independently, learning timing and shape change. Older kids (9–12+) can experiment with more frames, easing, and character details. Always supervise use of sharp tools (stapler, scissors) and adapt complexity to each child’s skills.

What are the benefits of making a squash-and-stretch flipbook?

Making a squash-and-stretch flipbook teaches a core animation principle and strengthens observation, sequencing, and timing skills. It improves fine motor control, patience, and visual storytelling as kids learn how shape changes convey movement and emotion. The quick, low-cost project encourages experimentation and iterative improvement, boosts confidence, and offers a screen-free activity that can spark interest in drawing, film, or game design.

Ready to create?