7 creative craft ideas for toddlers

If nursery is shut and you’re stuck for things to do, these inventive craft ideas will keep little hands entertained when they have to stay indoors. From play-dough to painting, you’ll never hear ‘mum, dad, I’m bored’ ever again.

Make your own play dough

Did you know you can make your own play dough in a matter minutes with stuff you have in the cupboards? You will need 8 tbsp plain flour, 2 tbsp table salt, 60ml warm water, food colouring of your choice and 1 tbsp of vegetable oil. Mix it all together into a ball and tada! You have play dough. This interactive crafty activity will keep little ones entertained for hours. Make a few batches in different colours and even add glitter. 

 

Make some paper photo frames

Have a look through old and new photos and pick some that deserve to be in a photo frame. Once the little ones have chosen their photos, you can cut some paper shapes for them to add around the edges. Arm them with a glue stick so they can stick the shapes to the photos to create a DIY photo frame. 

 

Source: Pinterest

 

Create some fingerprint flowers 

Pop some acrylic paints on a palette and grab some plain white paper. Prepare to get messy, so lay down some newspaper around the crafting area so you don’t have any accidents. Encourage your children to dab their fingers in the paint and then create fingerprint flowers and plants on the white paper. 

 

Source: Pinterest

 

Get spying with DIY binoculars

If your little ones are feeling lonely and can’t work out why they can’t see their friends at the moment, why not make them some little binoculars so they can look out the window and spy on everything going on in the outside world. Get two used toilet paper cardboard rolls and tape them together. Then you can decorate them as you like and add some string so they can pop them round their necks. A perfect craft for adventurous toddlers.  

 

Dress up with paper plate animal masks

If you’ve got some paper plates in the draw, then you’re halfway there to making paper animal masks. Cut out the eye holes and staple on some elastic to keep it on their faces and then encourage them to get creative with the decorating. Painting on an elephant trunk or rabbit ears are two simple but fun ideas. 

 

Source: First Palette

 

Build a stain glass window

All you need for this is a glue stick, some coloured crepe paper and an old triangle coat hanger or a paper template. Cut up the crepe paper into little strips and different shapes before glueing it together and then sticking it onto the coat hanger or paper template. Then when you hold the coat hanger up to the light, the sun will shine through, reflecting colours and shapes on the walls. Hang the coat hanger in the living room to brighten up your home. 

 

Source: Pinterest

 

Get collaging

From leaves they find in the street, to pebbles they find on the beach, to paper you have at home. You can collage with literally anything. You could even cut up some old Christmas and birthday cards if you’re feeling thrifty. Then stick them to a large sheet A3 in different shapes and colour clusters to make some pretty and creative pictures. 

 

Source: YouTube