How to Select Toddler Crafts

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

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Chasing your toddler around all day gets pretty tiring. And if you teach at a preschool, the problem is magnified by 20 or 30 kids. How do you get them to sit still for a few minutes while you catch your breath? Toddler crafts may help. While the little ones can't yet use scissors or glue, there are projects they can do with supervision that are fun and educational--and a break from constant motion!

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Craft smocks
Craft materials

Select Toddler Crafts

Step1

Figure out how much time you can spare and how much of a mess you can deal with. While doing the actual project may not involve too much time, preparation and clean-up both tend to take longer with toddler crafts than those for older children.

Step2

Determine what kind of creation you want. You may select one that is mostly prepared in advance, but that the children can use or play with afterward such as a puppet (there are some good ones at Enchanted Learning Finger puppets), a hat or a cardboard box building--or, you may want one that is primarily decorative, such as a finger painting or hand-print animal (see Resources below).

Step3

Fix upon an educational point, if appropriate, and select your craft accordingly. Are the children learning about pets, shapes, holidays, plants? There are crafts to illustrate all of these and more at Enchanted Learning KinderCrafts.

Step4

Let them touch. A toddler lives in a world of "don't touch." Finger paints, clay, cotton balls, swatches of cloth and other touchables will delight little hands. Family Fun.com has a number of these.

Step5

Plan and prepare. Know how much time you want to spend, keeping in mind short attention spans. Make a sample of the craft, or show examples that other students their age have made.

Tips & Warnings

Avoid the use of messy glue by making figures out of pipe cleaners connected with little circle magnets.
Toddlers need full smocks to protect their clothing, not just aprons. You'd be surprised at a child's ingenuity when there's a chance to get dirty.
Keep control of the activity. Toddlers can easily get out of hand, especially when doing something messy. Monitor the children carefully.