Easy Spring Crafts for Toddlers

Spring is a great time to introduce color and nature themes to your toddler. Use the following crafts to keep those little hands busy on a rainy day and to inspire creative learning:

MoJo Butterflies

Materials Needed:

Clothes Pin (wood)

One Coffee Filters

Watercolor Paints

One Black Pipe Cleaner

Instructions:

Using black paint, paint the wood clothes pin black or brown (or another color depending on your child’s preference.) This will serve as the base of the butterfly.

Fold the pipe cleaner into a V shape. Snip the ends of the V to approximately three inches. Slightly curls the ends and glue to the flat end clothes pin.

Lay the coffee filter on a flat surface. Spritz or spray with warm water until the filter is damp (but not dripping wet.) Gently press the filter until it is flat.

Using a paintbrush or sponge, have the child color the wet coffee filters with watercolors, using any color or pattern the child prefers. The colors will soak easily into the filter and may run. This will add to the effect. When finished painting, allow filters to dry.

Gather the filter in the middle, keeping the outside edges as flat as possible. Clip the filter with the clothespin. Spread out the edges of the paper (the wings) to complete the butterfly.

Optional: Glue a magnetic strip to the back of the butterfly and hang it on the refrigerator.

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Cereal Bird Feeder

Materials Needed:

One Box of Cheerios (or Other Non-Sugared Donut-Shaped Cereal)
Yarn
Pencil

Instructions:

Cut a two foot piece strand of yarn. Lightly tie one end of yarn around pencil to keep cereal from slipping off.

Have child(ren) string cereal onto the yarn as if they were string a necklace with beads. When yarn is nearly full, remove the pencil and tie both ends of the yarn together.

Hang the strand off a tree branch or bird feeder outside and watch the birds enjoy their treat.

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Family Hand Flowers

Materials Needed:

Construction Paper

Scissors

All Purpose Glue or Craft Glue

Instructions:

Choose a construction paper color for the flower. Have the child help trace the outline of each family member’s hand on construction paper, including their own. Help the child to cut out each handprint.

Using green construction paper, help the child to cut out a stem and leaves in appropriate proportion to the largest handprint.

Beginning with the largest handprint, have the child layer the handprints from largest to smallest, matching up the bottom of the palms. Alternate the thumbs (one facing left, one facing right, and so on…) to fan out the flower.

Help the child to glue the hand prints in place to form the flower. Help the child to glue the leaves to the stem and then the stem to the back of the flower. Allow to dry.

Enjoy this precious family keepsake!

Optional: Write the names of the family members or family last name on the smallest flower with marker.

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Fruit Rainbows

Materials Needed:

One Box of Fruit Loops (or Other Cereal with Rainbow-Colored Pieces)
All Purpose Glue or Craft Glue
Construction Paper (Printer/Copier Paper or Cardboard can also be used as a Substitute)
Pencil or Pen

Instructions:

Draw the lines of a rainbow shape on the construction paper for children to follow. Be sure to include one line for every color of cereal.

Have child(ren) separate cereal into piles of like colors. Then, glue the cereal onto the construction paper to fill in the colors of the rainbow.

Allow glue to dry. Hang up rainbow for a colorful decoration!