Here are some simple, fun, and safe winter craft ideas for toddlers! These projects use easy-to-handle materials and minimal steps, allowing toddlers to get creative while exploring textures, colors, and shapes.
1. Snowy Cotton Ball Snowman
- What to Do: Glue cotton balls onto a large snowman outline on construction paper. Let toddlers add buttons, paper hats, scarves, and googly eyes for decoration.
- Materials: Construction paper, cotton balls, glue, markers, googly eyes, small buttons.
2. Puffy Paint Snowflakes
- What to Do: Mix shaving cream and glue to create puffy paint, then let toddlers use a brush or fingers to “paint” snowflakes on colored paper. Once dry, the snowflakes have a 3D effect.
- Materials: Shaving cream, glue, colored paper, paintbrush.
3. Pinecone Painting
- What to Do: Have toddlers dip pinecones into white or blue paint, then roll them over paper to make snowy, textured prints. It’s messy but super fun!
- Materials: Pinecones, non-toxic paint, paper, shallow trays.
4. Paper Plate Penguins
- What to Do: Paint a paper plate black for the body, add a white oval tummy, and use paper cutouts for eyes, beak, and flippers. Toddlers can glue everything together.
- Materials: Paper plates, black and white paint, construction paper, glue, googly eyes.
5. Sticky Wall Snowman
- What to Do: Use contact paper on a wall (sticky side out) and let toddlers stick cotton balls, felt pieces, and buttons to create a snowman shape. This is a fun, mess-free activity.
- Materials: Contact paper, cotton balls, felt, buttons.
6. Bubble Wrap Snow Printing
- What to Do: Tape bubble wrap onto toddlers’ hands or feet, dip it in white paint, and press onto blue paper for snowy footprints or handprints.
- Materials: Bubble wrap, white paint, blue paper, tape.
7. Marshmallow Snowflakes
- What to Do: Use mini marshmallows and toothpicks to create snowflake shapes. Toddlers can explore different designs by connecting marshmallows with toothpicks.
- Materials: Mini marshmallows, toothpicks.
8. Handprint Mittens
- What to Do: Trace the toddler’s hand on construction paper, cut out the shape, and decorate with pom-poms, cotton, or glitter to make “mittens.”
- Materials: Construction paper, scissors, glue, pom-poms, cotton balls, glitter.
9. Pom-Pom Snowman Stamping
- What to Do: Use a clothespin to hold a pom-pom, dip it in white paint, and stamp onto blue paper to create a snowman shape. Add details like eyes and buttons once dry.
- Materials: Pom-poms, clothespins, white paint, blue paper, markers.
10. Pine Tree Sponge Painting
- What to Do: Cut sponges into triangle shapes, dip in green paint, and stamp on paper to create a winter pine forest. Toddlers can add snow by stamping with a cotton swab.
- Materials: Sponges, green paint, paper, cotton swabs.
11. Felt Hot Cocoa Mug Craft
- What to Do: Cut a mug shape from felt, and let toddlers glue on cotton balls for “marshmallows.” This easy, soft-texture craft is perfect for little hands.
- Materials: Felt, cotton balls, glue.
12. Snow Globe Sensory Bags
- What to Do: Fill a resealable plastic bag with clear hair gel, blue glitter, and small winter-themed confetti or sequins. Seal tightly for a mess-free sensory play.
- Materials: Resealable plastic bags, clear hair gel, glitter, confetti, tape (to reinforce the seal).
13. Yarn-Wrapped Snowflakes
- What to Do: Cut out snowflake shapes from cardboard and let toddlers wrap them with blue or white yarn. This helps with motor skills and makes for a cute decoration.
- Materials: Cardboard, yarn, scissors.
14. Footprint Penguins
- What to Do: Paint a toddler’s foot with black paint, stamp it on paper, and add eyes, beak, and feet with markers to create a cute penguin.
- Materials: Black paint, paper, markers.
15. Button Snowflake Sorting
- What to Do: Draw a snowflake outline on paper and have toddlers place buttons along the lines. This is a simple sorting and fine-motor activity.
- Materials: Buttons, paper, marker.
These crafts are fun, simple, and safe for little hands, keeping toddlers busy and inspired throughout the winter season!