Mothers Day Crafts for Toddlers
Nothing says, "Happy Mother's Day," like a gift from your toddler. Daddies and pre-school teachers often look for fresh ideas to add to the endless hand print in plaster craft plaque. These ideas will stand out and it will just take a little help from a big friend. Even Grandma would love to receive one.
Pebble plaque
Next time you go on a walk, pick up little pebbles along the way. Try to help your little one choose smooth stones about the size of a jelly bean. Because of the size of the stone, hold them in a little bag or your hand. Once you are home, mix some salt dough. The recipe, use 1 cup of flour, 1/3 cup of salt and a little over 1/3 cup of water. Add more as needed. Mix them together until you have a good, stiff dough. Flatten the dough into a disk that is about 1/3 inch thick. Smooth it. Let your toddler press the stones into the dough. Bake it at 275 degrees for 2 hours. Let it cool. Check for loose stones. Glue them back into place. To personalize the craft more, add a few drops of Mom's favorite color via food coloring before you add it to the flour/salt mixture.
Print cups
Hand prints are still adorable, but freshen them up a bit. Buy a craft cup from your local craft store - the type that comes with picture sheets that the child colors and then places inside the cup. Either turn the color sheet over to the blank backside or cut another piece of paper to match the size of the included sheets. Using finger paint, cover your child's palms, one at a time, and press it onto the paper. Clean each hand between prints to avoid accidents. When the paint dries, place the prints inside the cup slot. Try to match the spots where Mommy's hands would go. Put the top on and seal it.
Flower power
Collect empty, clean vegetable or soup cans. Remove the label. Let your toddler paint the outside of the can. Spray the paint with a sealer to protect it from water. Place a few pebbles in the bottom of the can. Help your little one transplant a flower into the new flower pot.
Picture frame
Go to your local craft store and purchase a blank foam picture frame. Buy appropriate foam stickers and let your toddler decorate one side of the frame. Take a picture of the little one with her mommy and grandma and put it in the frame.
Mother's Day card
Finish your gift with the perfect card, made from construction paper and your child's own hand. Fold a piece of construction paper in half. Have your child place one hand on the card, with the thumb touching the fold. Trace the hand. Checkherefor a picture. If your toddler is good with scissors, the child should cut it out. If not, you can. Then have the child draw or write on the inside. Even the scribbles of a child mean a lot to a mom!
