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If your child is 2 or under, you can still begin to introduce them to the wonderful world of arts and crafts. Before you get started on the craft projects below, keep in mind that the younger your child, the more assistance they will need. Also, if your child does not show an interest in the project, try again in a week or two. Children, and their interests and attention spans change rapidly at this age.
Art Projects for Young Children:
-- Sticker Projects -- Cut out some shapes from construction paper and help your child stick stickers onto the paper. As you're sticking them on say, "here is the circle, let's put a sticker on it". Pretty soon your child will be able to put a sticker on the shape you tell him to!!
-- Dot Painting -- If you're not ready to deal with the mess that painting brings, you can purchase dot paints at a children's toy store or arts and crafts store. They are easy to manipulate and easy to clean up.
-- Tape paper down on your child's high chair, give them a few crayons and let them scribble away. Make sure they don't eat the crayons. (This is great to do when you need to get some things done in the kitchen!!)
-- Potato Prints -- Cut a potato in half and dip in paint: let your child "stamp" the potato onto paper. The potato will be easier to manipulate than a paint brush.
-- Clay or play doh is great for this age. Again watch that your child doesn't eat his creations.
-- Take an empty coffee tin/can and let your child glue tissue paper on it. Give him a stick and you have a homemade drum.
-- Make and decorate telescopes by using paper towel or toilet paper holders.
--Show your child how to make chains by linking strips together. Hang one of their creations in their room.
-- Make paper snowflakes by cutting holes around the corners of a folded piece of paper.
--Trace your childs' hand and help him color it in. Or, have him lay down and trace his whole body. Draw on clothes, shoes, etc.
--A slightly older child will love to do beads, with your help. Again, watch that the beads do not get put into his mouth.
--Make puppets out of brown paper bags, or old socks. Glue on eyes, nose, etc and decorate with stickers or markers.
--Help your child make a photo album by taking the "doubles" you get with each picture and glueing it into a book that you decorate. (Staple some sheets of paper together or punch holes along the edge and thread yarn through the holes to bind the book).
--Make placemats by decorating a piece of paper with paint or stickers. When your child is finished, cover with a page protector sheet or laminate the paper. You can make bookmarks the same way.
--Do sand art by glueing a design on a pice of paper and letting your child sprinkle sand over the glue. Or, get different colors of sand and help them pour the sand into a clear container.
--Don't discount baking as a great way to design...make a large sheet cake and let them decorate the cake with icing, candy, sprinkles, etc. for some great "edible" art.
Keep a large box handy with supplies so that when the mood strikes, you are ready to do some projects. It takes very little to entertain a young toddler and you will be starting them on their way towards a creative future.
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