When I started learning how to budget, free activities became essential, and these easy toddler crafts were a lifesaver!
Not only do these crafts for toddlers save money, but they also provide a wonderful opportunity for bonding and nurturing creativity in your little ones.
Plus, many of these art and craft activities use materials you likely already have around the house, making them even more convenient and accessible for busy parents.
Whether you’re looking to save money or simply want to enjoy some creative time with your little ones, these 29 fun crafts are perfect for keeping your kiddos occupied and happy all summer long.
29 Easy Toddler Crafts- FREE Crafts For Little Ones
Create a vibrant rainbow by gluing Froot Loops, cotton balls, and other fun art pieces onto a piece of paper. It’s a fun way for toddlers to practice color recognition and fine motor skills while making a deliciously cute craft.
Fill clear plastic bottles with water, glitter, beads, and other small items to create mesmerizing sensory bottles that your toddlers will love shaking and watching.
I use these for fun activities, but my girls will also use these for their calm down minute when they get upset.
Use your child’s handprints to create a cute caterpillar on paper. It’s a keepsake craft that captures a moment in time and helps kids learn about insects.
Let your toddler create a colorful “stained glass” effect by sticking tissue paper pieces onto clear contact paper. Hang it in a window for a beautiful, sun-catching display.
5. DIY Cloud Dough (Kid Safe Playdough)
Mix simple, taste-safe pantry ingredients to create soft, moldable cloud dough. This sensory craft is safe for little ones and provides hours of imaginative play.
Paper plate crafts are a great idea for any occasion- they’re blank slates for creativity to run wild!
Use paper plates, paint, and ribbons to make a colorful wind catcher that dances in the breeze. It’s an easy craft that brightens up any outdoor space.
Plant seeds in a small cup and watch them grow! This simple gardening craft teaches toddlers about nature and responsibility as they care for their little plants.
Not only that, but your kids can decorate their cups however they please.
Transform clothespins, construction paper, pipe cleaners, and more into adorable dragonflies. This quick and easy craft will let your kids’ imaginations soar.
Use toilet paper tubes, feathers, construction paper, and googly eyes to make cute, pinchy parrots that can clip onto anything. It’s a fun way to bring a bit of the jungle into your home.
10. Yarn Bird’s Nest
Let your toddlers create a cozy bird’s nest using yarn and glue. It’s a messy, tactile craft that’s perfect for little hands.
Then they can make their own eggs with painted rocks, buttons, construction paper, or whatever else you have laying around.
Mix yogurt with a few drops of food coloring to create edible paint. Toddlers can paint on paper or directly on a high chair tray, making it a safe and tasty activity.
Fill squeeze bottles with lf our, water, salt, and tempera paint and let your kids create abstract masterpieces on paper. It’s a great way to explore color and texture.
13. Scribble Table
Cover a small table with butcher paper, cardboard, or construction paper and let your toddlers go wild with crayons, markers, and stickers. It’s an easy setup that encourages creativity.
String Cheerios onto pipe cleaners and cover a toilet paper tube with bird feed to create simple bird feeders. Hang them outside and watch as birds come to visit.
Gather up old magazines, newspapers, boxes, and other recyclables to create a mixed-media art canvas. This eco-friendly craft sparks creativity.
16. Butterfly Baggie
Fill a small plastic baggie with colorful tissue paper, buttons, glitter, pompoms, and other colorful pieces, then tie it in the middle and add pipe cleaner antennae to make a butterfly that can flutter around the house.
Use construction paper, markers, and craft sticks to make a playful frog puppet that your toddlers can use to act out their favorite stories.
18. Potato Stamps
Cut potatoes into fun shapes using cookie cutters, dip them in paint, and stamp them onto paper. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to create unique art.
Trace your toddler’s hand and arm and cut it out to make a unique tree trunk. Then let them decorate with pompoms as apples- or other fruits!
To make it more interactive, add in buttons, pasta, and more craft supplies to keep them engaged in making their tree- or multiple trees!
Melt down old crayons in a Lego-shaped mold to create new, colorful crayons. It’s a creative way to repurpose broken crayons.
Just be sure to use molds that won’t be used for food!
Use yarn and paper plates to create a web, then add a construction paper spider. This spooky and fun craft is perfect for Halloween.
22. Birds in a Nest
Craft a nest from shredded paper, circles, feathers, string, and more. It’s a great way to talk about birds and their habitats.
Roll toy cars through paint and onto paper to create unique, abstract art. It’s a craft that combines creativity with playtime.
24. Leaf Prints
Collect leaves and use them to make prints on paper with paint. It’s a nature-inspired craft that’s perfect for exploring the outdoors.
25. Simple Sailboat
Did you think I wouldn’t add any popsicle stick crafts to my list?
Use fabric or construction paper, a popsicle stick, buttons, stickers, and some staples to create a mini sailboat. It’s a fun craft that you can even float in a bathtub or pool.
Create a design with glue on paper, sprinkle it with salt, and then paint over it with watercolors for a cool, textured effect.
Turn paper plates into adorable farm animals with markers, paints, googly eyes, construction paper, and a bit of creativity. It’s a fun way to learn about animals.
Fill a ziplock bag with paint and baby oil and let your toddler squish and move the paint around inside the bag. It’s a mess-free way to enjoy sensory play.
29. Religious Easter Coloring Pages
Holidays can be more fun with some easy, fun craft ideas- including coloring activities!
Print out Easter-themed coloring pages with religious motifs and let your toddlers color them in. It’s a peaceful activity with a meaningful theme.
Final Thoughts
These 29 easy toddler craft ideas are not only budget-friendly but also provide endless opportunities for creativity and learning.
Whether you’re looking to save money or simply enjoy quality time with your little ones, these easy crafts will keep your toddlers engaged and happy all summer long.
Don’t forget to explore more DIY craft ideas to keep the fun going in your home!
Check out more of my DIY craft ideas here to get some inspiration for things to do around your house and with your kids.
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Looking for ideas for my 17 month old granddaughter
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looking for ideas for my busy 18 month old grandson.