Simple Toddler Arts & Craft Ideas: 101 Toddler Activities

You’ll want these simple toddler arts & craft ideas during the slow summer months, or on a rainy day! Gather a few items from around the house, and your kids will play happily for… at least a few minutes!

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As I continue my series of 101 Tech Free Toddler Activities, we’re in the midst of packing for camping (again)… so I’ll probably need those road trip activity ideas! But for the slower days of summer, here are some simple toddler arts and crafts ideas I’ve enjoyed trying out with the boys. I’ve linked to instructions when available! Many of these simple ideas would work well into the preschool years too!

These crafts may take some supervision for toddlers. The end result will delight your little ones, as you play alongside them, and older toddlers with more independence will love using their skills!

These ideas don’t take a ton of crazy materials. I think the weirdest item you’ll need is Plaster of Paris for the goo/chalk. Most are made with items you likely have around the house. Enjoy!

101 Tech-Free Toddler Arts & Craft Ideas

Decorated Snack Bags

Let your child decorate their snack bags with pipe cleaners, stickers, and googly eyes! (may require some help). This is a great toddler arts and craft idea that you can do now, and then save the bags to put snacks in whenever you go on an outing! They’ll love seeing their handiwork again.

Finger Puppet Craft Idea

Create simple finger puppets using old rubber gloves! Waterproof for bath time fun as well!

Wildlife Care Activity

Teach your child to help wildlife with this easy bird nesting bag craft!

DIY Playdough Craft

The clean way to make your own playdough or goo: put it in a plastic bag and tape it shut. I love this! It never has to come out of the bag! Shhhh don’t tell your child until they are MUCH older, and you might get another year or two without digging dried chunks out of all your furniture!

• Check out my DIY Purple Playdough Recipe (it’s scented!)
• Or, try this fun Chocolate Playdough Cookie Shop Play Idea

DIY Sidewalk Chalk or Paint

Make your own chunky sidewalk chalk for coloring on sidewalks and driveways. Let your toddler draw to their heart’s content.

Make your own non-toxic sidewalk paint! Don’t worry, it’ll wash away with the next rain shower! 

A Continuous Easel for Toddler Artists

Love this idea for creating a continuous coloring easel using a roll of paper, over the door hooks, and curtain rod/dowel!

Paper Tube Rain Stick Craft

This paper tube rain stick is quieter than the real version! My son loves to make noise, and I think I’d rather hear this than wooden trucks knocking about!

Want more music? Try this handmade musical instruments craft project!

The Simplest Paper Craft for Toddlers!

This is so simple, it’s almost ridiculous. Let your baby tear paper (magazines, construction, etc) into strips. I’ve read paper tearing is an important pre-scissors skill. And babies love the sound of it. If you have an older child, they can make a collage with the torn strips, so this is a good craft for older siblings!

Decorate a vase or pencil holder

Create a decorated vase or pencil holder by having your toddler apply stickers to an empty soda bottle, disposable coffee cup or other container. (Tip: Use those sheets and sheets of mailing labels that come in the mail for sticker practice before using up your “fun” stickers.” Early sticker-artists won’t really care as long as they get to stick, stick, stick!).

The Wonder Box Idea

I tried this Wonder Kleenex Box craft – granted, I had to assemble it – but I found it to be a great no-sew use for my TONS of scrap fabrics I have and my son loved playing with it too (nice quiet activity for car rides!). I didn’t have an empty tissue box handy, but I have several old wipes cases I was saving! Perfect!

Bean Bag Toss Activity

Make temporary bean bags with zip snack bags filled with beans, rice, or unpopped corn kernels. (Be sure you’re using bags with a good seal!). Kids will love to measure in the beans/filler. Or might want to mix them for a fun multi-colored effect!

Avoid disaster when doing toddler arts and crafts:

It should go without saying: always SUPERVISE children when doing a craft. Watch for small pieces they could put in their mouths. Be sure to use non-toxic glues and crayons.

COVER your table/floor appropriately (you could make this easy 1-hour Cornered Tablecloth!) And be near a sink.

What are your fa simple toddler arts and crafts you’ve done? (Pre-scissors phase).

Share these toddler arts and craft ideas – Pin this post!

Have you checked out all 101 Toddler Activities?

• Water Play with Toddlers
• Summer Reading for Toddlers
• Simple Arts & Crafts with Toddlers (you are here)
• Rainy Day Ideas for your Toddler
• Road Trip with a Toddler
• Kiddie Workout
• Toddler Activities In the Kitchen
• Life Skills for every Toddler
• Simple Things you can do with your Toddler