It can be difficult to come up with good toddler crafts. We want children to get enjoyment and satisfaction from completing the craft without an adult having to do it for them.

We have three main options when introducing toddlers to arts and crafts:

  • Let them try materials for the sake of it, without a finished product.
  • Adapt an older children’s craft so toddlers can join in.
  • Design a specific toddler craft.

All of these will get toddlers involved in arts and crafts so a mixture is probably ideal. The first option is known as ‘process art’. It’s very good for a toddler’s development and it’s worth making time for. See the bottom of this page for more information about process art.

The second option is best while older siblings are engaged in craft projects. There are suggestions on how to make an activity easier at the end of a lot of the pages on Bundle of Monkeys. In some cases it will mean making most of the craft yourself and letting your toddler do the decorating. This works well when you have a younger child who wants to have all the same things their older sibling has, but I wouldn’t recommend it specifically for the toddler age group.

The third option is to find a craft specifically for a toddler. The best toddler craft is a fun activity that enables them to practise key skills at the right level for their development, and also produces a finished product. The Toddler Crafts section focuses on this type of activity. It contains simple crafts using age-appropriate skills. Most of these activities will require some preparation by an adult (or a willing older sibling) before starting. Use the menu to find a variety of toddler crafts.

Process Art

Crafts have an end product but process art doesn’t. This is art which is done entirely for the experience. Process art is a fun and enriching experience for young children. If you’re considering crafts for a toddler in your care, you should also make time for process art. Sometimes it can result in a finished product but it should not be the end goal.

Toddler Crafts - Process Art: Painting with a paint brush on a large sheet of paper.

Set up a space for your toddler to explore for themselves. Give them a few materials to try out and discover, then step back and see what they do. Here are a few ideas:

  • Drawing with different media: chalk, pastels, crayons, pens or pencils.
  • Painting on paper with a brush – choose a large piece of paper so they can make whole-arm movements. Toddlers often like to paint standing up. If you don’t have an easel you could stick paper to a wall (my favourite place for toddler painting is paper taped to the wall in the shower – very easy clean-up!)
  • Painting objects – for example sticks, stones, shells or small models bought for the purpose. Be very clear about how you present these so toddlers know which objects in the house are for painting and which are not.
  • Painting with fingers, hands and feet.
  • Using stickers.
  • Using glue – spreading or squeezing. Glitter glue or coloured glue might work well.
  • Mixing colours.
  • Printing using stamps – you can use ink stamps with washable ink or make your own paint stamps using recycled materials or potatoes.
  • Painting with different textures and objects, e.g. string, Q-tips, sponges, toy cars or toy animals.
  • Using modelling clay or playdough.

Make sure the materials you provide are safe, and washable, then explore and have fun! There are no wrong answers with process art!