My little one loves to sit in his highchair and help with arts and crafts projects. I love doing things like these with my children. I Have been doing arts and crafts since I was a child. Its something that my mother did with me and its something I have passed down to my children. Toddlers often need more help with projects then the older children do, so its best if you find projects that are easier for them to handle. Nothing with a lot of steps. Having lots of newspaper handle and wet wipes will speed clean up with toddlers.
Easy Fans
These fans are easy to do no matter what they age is.
Materials:
Paint stirrer (wood)
1 8inch white card stock
1 8 inch blue card stock
Glue
Star sticker
Red electrical tape
Parents will need to do this first step. Glue the card stock together with the stick sticking out. You want one white piece and one blue piece.
Let the children place the star stickers all over the blue side of the paper. Then help them use teh tape and make stripes on the white side.
Wave fan around and enjoy the fun. Optional: I have even found some red, white and blue streamers and hang these off the edges so they will blow while the kids wave them around.
Star collage
Kids love painting. Let them have fun with this project. Using kid friendly paint and laying down paper will make clean up a snap.
Materials:
Different size star sponges
Kids washable paint
large white construction paper(few pieces)
Red, white and blue ribbon (combined on one ribbon)
Scissors
Hole punch
Place different color paints in different bowls. Show your toddler a few times how to dip their sponge in the paint and then on the paper.
Let your children dab stars all over the paper in different colors. Try and help them so its not a big glob of paint. Let dry
Once dry, parents using your scissors, cut out a huge star using as much of the paper you can.
Using the hole punch, punch a hole at the top of the star. String ribbon through and tie off. Hang the star somewhere were everyone will see it.
Straw painting fireworks
This is a favorite of my toddler, and I am sure it will be the same with yours.
Materials:
Washable red, white, blue paint
Black thick heavy paper
Newspaper
Straws
This can be a messy project, so you want a wide area covered with newspaper for easy clean up. I would also place toddler in old clothes
Lay out the heavy paper and place a few blobs of paint on the paper. Take the straw and blow at the paint. This makes the paint spread out into a firework pattern.
Make sure you watch your children so they don’t suck through the straw. Hang to dry and show them their picture of fireworks
Toddler Shaker
Toddlers love noise. This is the perfect craft for them.
Materials:
Empty toilet paper roll
Washable blue, red and white paint
Uncooked beans
Red, white and blue streamers
Glue
Nut cups or thick paper
Parents will need to help with this project. Give your child the toilet paper roll and paint and let then decorate them. Let dry.
Glue a nut cap or thick paper to one end. Let dry.
Add beans to the tube and glue a nut cap or paper to the other side. Then glue some streamers to each end. Let dry and show toddlers how to shake it.
