Toddlers Craft Ideas

1. Help your toddler drizzle some glue on a sheet of construction paper. He can then sprinkle sand, cornmeal or birdseed on top of the glue to make a picture.
2. Animal collage

   Get some magazines with pictures of animals in them. Take a couple of magazines, and either the child or you cut out pictures of the animals. Then paste them onto a large sheet of white paper. Then say the name of the animal and make the sound the animal might make. Then print the first letter of the animal's name. Not only are they learning new kinds of animals and the sounds they make, but they're also learning letter recognition and developing their fine motor skills. It also makes a colorful collage to put on the child's wall.

3. Gather up textured objects like leaves and use them to make rubbings with crayons. (Place the leaf underneath the sheet of paper and rub the crayon on top of the sheet of paper. You should end up with an imprint of the shape of the leaf.)
4. Unroll a sheet of clear adhesive paper and place it sticky side up. Then give your toddler a variety of art materials to stick on the paper. Apply a second sheet of clear adhesive paper or a piece of construction paper and -- voila! -- you'll have some instant artwork.
5. Trace your toddler's hand and feet on a sheet of paper or let him make handprints and footprints with paint.
6. Make pasta necklaces using large pasta. You can paint the pasta first using tempera paints or combine food coloring with a little water to dye the pasta instead. (Simply dip the pasta in the colored water for about 10 seconds and then allow it to dry overnight. Note: Be sure to wear plastic or rubber gloves as this may stain your fingers.)
7. Place a blob of paint in the centre of a large sheet of paper. Drive a toy car through the puddle and watch how the wheels leave tracks on the page.