Playtime with your toddler can be an exhilarating
experience. From watching them take their first steps, to helping them with
their first words, to bringing and toys and games that light up their face,
each day of play brings a new moment of joy. And if you’re looking for some
great toddler activities to share with your youngster during playtime, consider
adding arts and crafts into the day. Here are eight toddler arts and crafts
ideas that can help you and your toddler create a masterpiece.
1. Hand and Foot
Tracing
One of the easiest ways to begin using arts and crafts with
your toddler is by teaching them how to trace their hands and feet with a
colored pencil or crayon. Have them place either one on a piece of paper, and
let them guide their utensil around it. Once your child is finished, encourage
them to decorate it with different colors, or draw around it anything they
would like.
2. Bead Art
For this toddler activity, you can either purchase different
colored beads, or simply dye pasta different colors by using food coloring and
rubbing alcohol. Provide your child with string, make sure the pasta has large
enough holes, and let them string together pieces in whatever pattern they
choose.
3. Sidewalk Chalk
This is a tried-and-true favorite. Find some washable
sidewalk chalk at your local arts and crafts store, and let your toddler draw
whatever they would like on the pavement outside your house. For some added
fun, bring together some local children to create a group masterpiece.
4. Play With Clay
Playing with clay can be a great way to have some fun and
develop your child’s grip strength. Find some colorful, non-toxic clay that
they can smash together, pull apart, and use to create a work of art.
5. Glow in the Dark
If your child likes to play with paints, get them a glow in
the dark set that can light up the room as you flip a switch. For an added
bonus, don’t tell them it’s glow in the dark paint, and listen to them giggle
as it shines in the darkness.
6. Fun With Pipe
Cleaners
Colorful pipe cleaners can be used for creating fun
sculptures that are soft and harmless to play with around the house. Provide
your child with a wide array of colors, and let them twist, bend, and combine
the pipe cleaners to create anything that comes out of their imagination.
7. Bubbles
While bubbles aren’t generally considered an arts and crafts
supply, use this fun trick to add some color into this already fun activity. Add
food coloring to a few different buckets of bubbles, and have your child blow
them towards a large piece of paper. The explosion of the bubble will create a
beautiful design each time, and this toddler activity provides you and your
child with a fun way to create a painting.
8. Bathtub Paints
One of the best ways to make bath time fun for all is by
supplying your child with washable paints that can be used on the wall of the
tub. These paints are non-toxic and can be wiped away to create a new canvas
each time. They’ll be creating their own work of art as you scrub them down for
bedtime.
Toddler Arts and
Crafts
Playtime can be a great
time to explore new things with your toddler. Try these fun toddler arts and
crafts activities to add some color to your playtime and create art together as
a family.