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What age to start crafts for a toddler? (18 months-2 yr.)
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Anonymous
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I am expecting my second child right before DD turns 2. I was thinking I should probably come up with some quiet activities that we can do at home while my youngest sleeps.
Is it too young to even think of crafts at 18 months to 2 years old? What works at this age, or do I need to wait until after DD turns 2? Thanks. |
Anonymous
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My DD started to color around a year and now at 16 months is doing very simple art projects. We also found that she also loves to draw on a Magna doodle which is great because there is no clean up.
One easy art project is to take contact paper, sticky side up and let your child rip colored tissue paper and stick it to the contact paper. This makes a nice "stained glass" window. |
Anonymous
| My 18 mo loved the "dot" markers. Get some newspapers and let 'er rip. |
Anonymous
| Also Aquadoodle |
Anonymous
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Not too soon. My 20 m.o. has been coloring for a while now, and she does all kinds of crafts at day care that I haven't tried yet, like finger painting (although I don't know how long it holds her interest).
This isn't exactly a craft, but DD's favorite activity--that gets her to stay in one place for more than a couple of minutes--is legos. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks everyone for your replies. Where did you find these craft ideas? I have done some Google searches but most crafts seem complex and for older toddlers. Maybe I am not searching with the right terms. And PP, could you explain a "dot" marker? Is this a brand name? Thanks. |
Anonymous
| Look for some homeschooling blogs for ideas. There are some great craft ideas for little ones. Google "preschool homeschooling blogs." |
Anonymous
| you can do simple things like help them make cards for people -- cut and fold the cards from construction paper, then they add stickers and color. Also you can help them do collages at that age. Any kind of cut/color/glue project works with that age, it doesn't have to be an elaborate project. |
Anonymous
| we do lots of finger painting/ collages/ gluing/ stamps. It's not very defined, but it's hard to define much to that age anyway! it's messy though, so don't have your DC start the finger painting as you sit down to feed #2! |
Anonymous
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I'm the PP with the "stained glass window" project. I just search google for "toddler art projects." Another great resource is Family Fun magazine. They usually have a couple of fun projects for toddlers. I also know that there are a couple of books dedicated to toddler art projects which I'm sure you can find on Amazon.
I haven't tried this project but it's on my list -- Painting with Jello. You take an ice cube tray fill it with water and insert a Popsicle stick. Once frozen this is your paint brush. You then pour some dry jello onto paper and your child can paint with the frozen ice cube. The water will melt the jello and the color will start to appear on the paper. |
Anonymous
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My son's 2 and in daycare, where I get most of my ideas! Here are some of the things they've done the past few months that didn't involve too many special "craft it"items:
- coloring - with markers, paint, whatever you have! At home we have crayons (if your child's not used to them, Crayola makes bigger triangular ones), washable markers, washable tempura paint, watercolors, and sidewalk chalk - stamping - get big stamps (to avoid choking hazard) or make your own out of sponges or potatoes - stickers - gauge whether your child is old enough not to eat them! My son loves sticking stickers to cards for grandma, or just regular paper, or even himself! (great grocery store distraction too!) - Play-doh - if you make your own, your child can help you measure, adding a second "activity" - cooking/baking - not exactly a craft, and obviously not near the stove, but can help measure/dump dry ingredients into a bowl, stir, etc. Some that actually involve hitting up AC Moore/Michaels first: - making "ornaments" - adult glues popsicle sticks in the shape of a tree or star, child paints, then after they're dry, adult adds glue and child sprinkles on glitter. - decorating inserts for those make-your-own-coffee-tumbler (kid decorates paper, adult puts it together) - painting wooden picture frames Also, he just got a Fisher Price magnadoodle-type thing for his birthday that includes "stamps" that only work on it - great and 100% non-messy! |
Anonymous
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PP here. I was referring to dot markers. They are called "Do a Dot" on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Do-Dot-Rainbow-Art-Set/dp/B00004W3Y4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1267040907&sr=8-2 |
Anonymous
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We spent an hour on the back patio with sidewalk chalk followed by bubbles followed by seeing what things floated (our bird bath has melted snow water in it).
2 year old DD loves to help me cook - muffins, brownies, cookies - she likes to dump the measuring spoons and cups into the bowl and stirs (be sure to account for extra ingredients and some mess). |
Anonymous
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Try this website, too (through Michaels):
http://www.theknackkids.com/Home.aspx |
Anonymous
| OP again. Thanks everyone for sharing. It seems like there are a ton of crafts at 3 or above, but 18 months to 2 1/2 is a little harder to find. I appreciate the ideas! |