When my daughter was small, I thought I had to wait until her bedtime to work on the crafts I loved. It wasn’t until kid #3 came along– and I had less time than ever– that I realized I could craft with kids underfoot. Not only was it possible, but it allowed my kids to express creativity, practice independence, and develop a love of art–all while spending time with Mom.
You’ve probably noticed that I add voiceover instructions to my tutorial videos post-filming. One of the reasons is because I often work with my kids in the room! I want my children to feel welcome and wanted in my studio, but I also need to get things done. So I found several ways to keep them busy and happy while I craft.
These activities are virtually free, and you likely have everything you need to get started. Here’s a list of ideas for creative kids of every age:
Toddlers
1) Stamps: Put out several stamps along with a single stamp pad. (I only let my kiddos use one at a time so they colors won’t mix.) Give them a stack of scrap paper and let them go crazy.
2) Stacking spools: Give your toddler a box of ribbon spools or several thread spools. Have them practice stacking… how tall can they make their tower?
3) Pillow stuffing: Sew two pieces of scrap fabric right-sides together, leaving a 6-inch hole. Turn right side out. Allow your toddler to tear off pieces of poly-fill batting and stuff. You can sew the hole shut to make their own pillow, or you can keep them busy for longer by having them un-stuff it.
4) Paper scrap scavenger hunt: As you’re paper crafting, give your child a paper scrap and ask them to bring you an item that matches the color.
5) Tape bracelet: Wrap a piece of packing tape around your child’s wrist, with the adhesive side facing out. As you craft, add snippets of fabric, paper, or ribbon to a pile. Let your child select pieces to stick to their bracelet.
6) Scrapbooks: Toddlers love looking at their own scrapbooks. Since the photos are in page protectors, you don’t have to worry about the pictures being damaged.
Preschoolers
1) Sewing dot-to-dot: Lower the feed dogs on your sewing machine and set your stitch length as long as possible (basting stitch). Sew through a piece of printer paper, making a design. Hand your preschooler a crayon and let them connect the dots.
2) Button sorting: My preschooler LOVES to sort my button collection. Have your child sort buttons by color or by size.
3) Decorative scissors: I have a collection of decorative scissors that aren’t sharp. Your child can cut zig-zags and scallops from scrap paper.
4) Yarn sewing: Tie a long strand of yarn to the edge of a piece of plastic mesh canvas. Wrap the other end around a toothpick and tape in place. Allow your preschooler to thread the yarn in and out of the holes to sew a colorful design.
5) Sticker tracing: If you’ve used all the stickers on a sheet, peel off the backing and adhere to a piece of colored paper. Your child can use a marker to trace the inside of the shapes. My preschooler loves to do this with letter stickers, and it’s a great way for him to practice writing the alphabet.
6) Hole punch: Hand-held punches, like a single standard hole punch, are easy for preschoolers to use and have no sharp blades. Let them make confetti from your paper scraps.
7) Clothes pin pickup: Give your child a clothes pin and have them practice picking up objects. This is a great way to develop fine motor skills.
Elementary Age
1) Felt or fleece sewing: Kids this age are ready to sew with a large, dull-point needle. You’ll probably need to thread the needle and tie the knot at the end. I also tie the thread to the eye of the needle to reduce frustration. Let them sew with non-fray fabric like fleece or felt.
2) Pipe cleaner animals: Pipe cleaners are only about $1 per package, and they can be re-used. Cut to several lengths and let your child twist them together to create animals or people.
3) Tutorial videos: My kids like to make their own crafting tutorial videos using my webcam or iPhone. Instead of posting them to YouTube, we put them on our private family blog to share with cousins.
4) Card making: Teach your child how they can make a card by cutting a piece of printer paper in half and folding it. Encourage them to decorate the card. Keep a stash of these to send as thank-you notes when someone gives your child a gift.
5) Paper punches: My 7-year-old loves punching out shapes with my paper punches. Make sure your child is mature enough to use one safely.
Happy Kids, Fulfilled Mom
I no longer feel responsible for always “entertaining” my kids; they work on their own projects while I work on mine. We make conversation, we make messes, and we make pretty things. Best of all, we make memories.
Share your ideas for crafts before bedtime in the comments section below!
