Craft ideas for 3yo

[Mamabear04]

Can anyone suggest any craft ideas for a recently turned 3yo? So far we do;

Colouring in
Drawing
Painting
Stickers
Play doh

I know a lot of people will suggest various Instagram accounts but I also have a newborn so don't have time to scroll through social media (don't even have much time to reply to texts!) Any ideas that keep them amused with minimum input from parents needed would be amazing!

Mine used to be happy with a box of cut up coloured paper and a glue stick. You can cut up magazines and packaging if you want to save money.

(They used to glue them onto A4 sheets, with plain or with simple pictures on)

Either plain or with pictures...

Sticky back plastic and some tissue paper/bits of pasta/wool/paper/leaves & sticks/whatever you've got knocking round

Paint sticks are great - you can use them as a stick or add water to your picture to make a water colour effect

Junk modelling

I often search for free printables on Pinterest/Google around whatever time of year it is and keep them handy to fill a bit of time.

Glueing random stuff to a page has always been a hit here. Everything from twigs, leaves etc gathered on walks to bits of junk mail, cotton wool, anything.

I also think it is worth having a Pinterest account if you have a crafty child. It is very low effort and there are great ideas.

Echo random stuff stuck down, big hit!

Cut stickers in half, you stick one half to a page and then give them a tub of the other half for them to match up.

Not crafty as such, but water beads with random objects added such as Lego bricks to find.

Use a sharpie to write letters/numbers/shapes on cardboard, use large cellotape over the top and then let them try and copy the shape (reusable).

Panting random sticks/cones/conkers etc found when out and about.

Oh yes. Random stuff stuck to paper.
Autumn is a great time for taking kids out for walks to collect things for their 'autumn collage'
Cut out leaf shapes from green paper and the child can draw or paint a tree trunk and then stick all the leaves on.
Toilet roll crafts - so many things to make by gluing on wheels for cars, wool for a hairy monster, a roof to make a house. Have a Google.

Another to say sticking random things to other things. Either plain paper or something 3d like a paper cup or toilet roll middle. Leaves, bits of paper, craft feathers, small shells. Sometimes I let him use glitter or small beads but probably not right now if you have a newborn.

DS also struggled with fine motor skills so threading beads onto string or threading string through holes was good for working on that. Also he has a pen that can be used to write on the window but he didn’t have that until a bit older I think and knew the difference between the window and other pens on the walls. This is good for practicing letters though.

DS also loves making birthday cards for anyone and everyone if you have any birthdays coming up, or you could start on the Christmas cards. Stamps are good for this, either bought or make a potato stamp.

Self inking stamp sets
Kinetic sand (although restrict to non carpet areas!)
Crayons and some cardboard boxes I sometimes cut holes so cars can be sent through it like a big tunnel.
Foam stickers -Googly eyes are always a winner
Water painting books - water turns the paper different colours
Baker Ross sell lots of supplies and kits for kids crafts. DS loved the foam crown set. I got some alphabet stickers and jewels so he could add his name and decorate it.

Kinetic sand in large deep baking tray to contain the mess, using paint sticks (virtually mess free) to paint recycling, Tupperware with print stick and random bits of paper/magazine cutouts to do ‘glueing’ with on large piece of paper. Water painting (either with the galt water painting sets or you can buy a calligraphy practice scroll for about £10 on Amazon which is reusable and just uses water on a brush). Oh and stamping, just a wee set of self inking stamps from hobby craft

The cutting stickers in half is genius, thank you!

I used to keep all boxes, no matter what size and we would stick them together, then paint, put stickers on. We would also make paper mache masks by blowing up balloons, then sticking newspaper strips on balloons, then when they’ve dried next day, pop balloon and cut out eyes and paint.

The Works do really cheap craft kits and themed ones based on time of year with a bunch of stuff to cut up and stick etc.

Easter coming up do bunny marble painting get a tray and paint and roll a round object like ball and help child tip side to side this will help them explore also you can get them to put cotton wool on or glitter

Draw on kitchen roll with felt tips then drop water on top with a dropper and watch the colours spread/separate