When you have limited time with your children, you want to make every minute count. One of the best bonding activities you can do with your children is working together on fun arts and crafts!
Arts and crafts are also a great way to help children with their fine motor skills with coloring, cutting, and gluing.
When the project is done, your child has something to feel proud of, play with later, and remember the quality time they spent with you.
These arts and crafts activities use materials that are likely already around your house, but a trip to the dollar or craft store is also a fun bonding experience. Here are some easy and fun arts and crafts activities.
Paper Squishies
Children love stuffed animals, and this craft lets you personalize your own squishy toy! Simply draw or print the front of an animal on one paper and the back of the animal on another paper. Color these however you choose, and then cut them out. Cover with tape, tape both sides together, stuff with a plastic bag, and tape the bottom closed.
Materials:
- 2x colored paper sheets
- White paper
- Black marker
- Transparent tape
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Small plastic bag
Follow the assembly instructions here.
Pom Pom Shooter
This fun toy is simple to create but provides hours of entertainment for young ones. Just tape a deflated balloon to the inside of a toilet paper roll and use the balloon as a slingshot to fire colorful pom poms.
Materials:
- Paper Cups or toilet paper rolls
- Balloons, 12”
- Pom Poms, Assorted (for firing)
- Duct Tape (or heavy-duty tape)
- Construction/Scrapbook Paper
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Craft Knife/scissors
Find the instructions for this craft here.
There are unlimited games you can play with these pom-pom shooters! Try to get the pom poms in cups, shoot homemade targets, or play Nerf-like games with them.
Different colored pom poms create a unique opportunity to practice color identification, patterns (alternate two or three colors), and color sorting (getting only one color into a specific cup)
Paper Chain Octopus
Children love to cut and glue just about anything, so this is the perfect project for little artists!
Cut a cardstock or construction paper circle (or, for more fun, paint a paper plate!) to make the octopus’s head. Color eyes, and a smile, and decorate the octopus head however you’d like. Then, cut out strips of cardstock or construction paper and use glue to create four paper chains for octopus tentacles. Find the full instructions and template here!
Materials:
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
Coffee Filter Butterflies
These coffee filter butterflies let you utilize everyday items and transform them into beautiful, cherished artwork!
Start by coloring a design on the coffee filters with washable markers. Then drip water onto the coffee filters with water (be sure not to oversaturate the filters or you will lose the design). Wait for the coffee filters to dry, then pinch them in the middle and secure them in place by twisting a pipe cleaner around the center. Find the full instructions here!
Materials
- Pipe cleaners
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers
- Paintbrush
- Water
“Stained Glass” Suncatchers
Hanging artwork in the window feels extra special to young children, so these “stained glass” suncatchers are the perfect bonding craft to do with your child!
Cut out a shape from clear plastic, such as from an empty plastic food or fruit container or a lamination page. Using black glue, draw a stained glass design on the plastic. Wait until the glue is dry, and then color with colored Sharpies. Hang in the window with double-sided tape. You can find the instructions here.
Materials:
- black glue (white Elmer’s glue + black acrylic paint)
- clear plastic (from an empty plastic container, a plastic folder, or an empty laminated pouch)
- sharpies (the more colors the better!)
- Double-sided tape
Creating keepsake crafts shouldn’t break the bank, and the focus should be on building a relationship with your child. These simple crafts will help boost your child’s confidence, practice their fine motor skills, and grow your relationship.
Bright Start Louisville offers exceptional childcare to children six weeks to 12 years old. We’re proud to offer a fun and educational preschool program that prepares your child for kindergarten per state educational standards.
If you’re looking for excellent childcare that gives your child a head start in life, contact Bright Start Louisville today!