10 Easy DIY Crafts to Do with Toddlers
Little Mowgli Looking for fun and easy DIY crafts to do with toddlers? These simple, hands-on activities not only entertain but also support child development and foster creativity. At Little Mowgli Nursery, we believe in engaging children through nature-based learning, sensory play, and activities rooted in strong early years education principles.
Here are 10 easy craft ideas you can try at home or in your nursery setting.
1. Leaf Stamping with Natural Paints
A perfect way to combine nature-based learning and creativity. Collect leaves, dip them in homemade natural paints, and stamp them onto paper. It's a great sensory activity that teaches about textures and seasons.
2. Tissue Paper Collage
Provide toddlers with colorful tissue paper and glue sticks to create vibrant collages. This supports fine motor skills and is a staple in many nursery curriculum frameworks.
3. Pasta Necklaces
Use colored pasta and yarn to create fun necklaces. It’s a classic DIY craft that enhances coordination and early math skills like patterning and counting—essential components of child development.
4. Handprint Animals
Create animals using your toddler’s handprints. Add googly eyes and paint for a fun twist. This is a favorite in our nursery activities because it's personal and sparks imagination.
5. Sensory Bottles
Fill plastic bottles with water, glitter, beads, or even small natural items. These calming bottles are popular in nursery rooms & setup to help toddlers self-regulate and explore cause and effect.
6. Paper Plate Masks
Turn paper plates into animal or superhero masks. This supports role-play and expressive arts—core parts of our early years education approach.
7. Nature Collage Walk
Take a short walk and collect twigs, flowers, and leaves. Use them to create a nature collage. This combines movement with nature-based learning, encouraging curiosity and connection with the environment.
8. Cotton Ball Painting
Dip cotton balls in paint and let your toddler explore textures and colors on canvas. A safe, messier alternative to brushes that promotes sensory development.
9. DIY Story Stones
Paint stones with simple images (sun, tree, car) and use them for storytelling. This creative tool is used in many nursery curriculum strategies to support language development.
10. Recycled Box Creations
Use old cereal boxes, cartons, and containers to build castles, cars, or animals. This activity not only supports child development through imaginative play but also introduces sustainability.
How Little Mowgli Nursery Supports Learning Through Play
At Little Mowgli Nursery, our thoughtfully designed nursery rooms & setup create a warm, stimulating environment for toddlers to explore, create, and grow. All our nursery activities are backed by research-based early years education principles that promote holistic child development.
We offer parents a rich selection of parent resources to extend learning beyond the classroom, ensuring that every child’s journey is supported both at nursery and at home.
Ready to explore more?
Visit Little Mowgli Nursery to learn more about our curriculum and how we nurture young minds through creativity, nature, and play.
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