Being a former preschool teacher and first grade teacher has made me love doing arts and crafts. This is especially true around holidays. Most of the crafts I have done, or looked up are geared towards older children, not a 1.5 year old. Also, many of the crafts I have seen for younger children are more done by the parents, not the child. I really wanted to find crafts that Annabelle could do, with limited help from me. The following crafts do have some parental prep work, but the actually project is done by the child.
ONE
Make a paper jack-o-lantern! Annabelle and I went to a play date where we “picked” a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch (after reading a book about a pumpkin). The mom who hosted the play date had shapes cut out for the eyes, nose and mouth. I just put glue on each of the pieces and let Annabelle put them where she wanted (I like to think it’s more about process than the product.. hence the Picasso pumpkin).
If you have older children they can even cut out their own eyes, nose and mouth.
TWO
Paint with flour, water and food coloring. I want to paint more with Annabelle, but since she still puts things in her mouth sometime I didn’t want to use real paint. I looked around and read that you can make “paint” with flour and water. Simply mix water and flour until it is think-ish, then add some food coloring.
I also have no paint bushed, so I let her use a basting brush. I also had toilet paper roll for her to use but she wasn’t so much into that.
I may try this again, letting her use q-tips.
THREE
Make a cotton ball ghost. This is another easy, easy craft. Just cut a ghost out of paper and put some glue on it. Then give your little one cotton balls and let them put them on the ghost. This is also a good way for you children to work on the pincher grasp and fine motor skills.
All Annabelle wanted to do was play with the glue stick. Which is odd, since she doesn’t like getting her hands messy any other time.