Contributed by Lisa Pratto, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru
Parents are always looking for new crafts for toddlers to keep those little hands busy.
This list of the top ten should entertain even the most stubborn toddler.
10. Goop
The name alone makes toddlers squeal with delight. This is so easy to make, too. Mix 1 cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of water and food coloring. It takes a few minutes to get everything to come together in the bowl but that only adds to the excitement.
9. Nature collage
This is a two-part project. Pass out brown paper lunch bags and head into the great outdoors. Let toddlers pick up seed pods, acorns, leaves, flowers (fallen on the ground) pebbles, or anything else that attracts their attention. Once you return home, pass out bottles of glue and over-sized construction paper. Let them add all their treasure to the collage.
8. Pasta jewelry
Many crafts for toddlers work on their dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Dye a larger noodle, like penne or mostacholi in food coloring (don’t boil) and let dry. Make a needle by taping one end of a piece of string with masking tape. You can make a variety of designs with different shapes and colors.
7. Wood puzzles
Crafts for toddlers all use interesting household items. Need another idea for those popsicle sticks? Line up 6-10 and run a piece of masking tape across them to hold everything together. Flip it over and color with markers. Once you are done, take the tape off and voila! Instant puzzle. Try to put the image back together. You could even write numbers on them for added counting fun.
6. Liquid crayons
Next time you are at a grocery warehouse, grab a supply of squeeze bottles for this project. Mix equal parts of water, flour and salt. Add some washable paint of food coloring and fill the bottles. Let toddlers squirt their choice of colors all over a bountiful supply of paper.
5. Tambourine
Kids love to make noise. These simple crafts for toddlers give in to that urge and keeps the volume down. You’ll need two paper plates, a stapler and some noisy fillers. Search your pantry for rice, macaroni noodles and dried beans. You can even have a mini science experiment by discussing which they think will be louder and why. Be sure to staple the edges thoroughly to avoid leakage.
4. Rubbings
Collect a variety of flat objects from around the house and outside. Anything with texture will work, leaves, the cracks in the driveway, the fluted column at the front porch. Experiment. Place a piece of paper over each and rub with a crayon. Thin paper produces better results but it does work with plain paper. Toddlers are amazed each and every time at the image that surprisingly appears.
3. Waxed leaves
While you are out collecting leaves for other crafts for toddlers, get some extra ones for this craft project. You just need paraffin wax and a disposable pan. Melt the wax and supervise dipping carefully. Let each leaf dry on newspaper or paper plates. You can use green leaves or fall leaves, either way is great.
2. Play dough
One of the greatest inventions for kids ever. Mix 2 cups of flour, 2 cups of warm water, 1 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar and food coloring. Go to town.
1. Ice cream in a bag
What kid wouldn’t love to make their own ice cream? Mix 1 cup of half and half, 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract in a plastic zippered bag. Seal. Place inside another plastic bag and add 4 cups of ice and 1 cup of ice cream salt (sold in the baking aisle). Seal and shake away (you may need to double bag it). If it is not ice cream in 5 minutes, you can even toss it in the washing machine’s spin cycle to the shock and amazement of your kids. Yum.