Springtime is the perfect time for crafts! From infants to toddlers and even kids, there’s a fun activity for everyone! Spring is famous for switching up the weather though, so these crafts are perfect for indoor or out! (Just make sure to have a designated zone if you’re extra particular about messes!)
Check out the video on YouTube by clicking the photo or read below to find out how to get started! (Unfortunately the video is too large to upload to here..)
6+ Months – Rainbow Swirl Painting
This one is great for kids of all ages! It’s fun, easy, and practically mess-free! All you need is a plain white canvas whatever size you like, some paint colors of choice, and a sealable bag. Pour the colors in a random pattern all over the canvas – be generous but not overbearing. Gently slide the canvas into the bag and seal. Then hand to your Little One (whatever age they are) and let them work their magic! Infants will mostly just push the paint around but older Littles might try to get specific and creative with their patterns. When they’re finished, gently and carefully remove the canvas from the bag and let dry. Then seal with a clear coat and voila! A basically mess-free springtime craft! *Bonus fun for trying it with pets too!
6+ Months – Rainbow Footprint Butterfly Painting
This one is great for kids of all ages too! But it does involve a little more mess. If you’re trying this with your infant, the mess won’t be as bad since you’re doing all the work. But with older Littles, lots of the fun can come from them doing the work themselves! All you need is a piece of printer paper (or canvas again if you want to display it), some paint colors of choice, and a brush for each color. Start by placing your infant in a highchair or seat where they can’t really wiggle free. (It might help to keep their hands busy with something.) Then paint the bottom of their foot in horizontal sections using each color – the size of the section depends on the size of the foot. For older Littles, let them apply the paint themselves! When the bottom of the foot is how you like it, carefully place it onto the paper or canvas with the foot on the opposite side. (For example, place the right foot on the left side and vice versa.) Do this with both feet, cleaning up the mess as you go. When you’re done, you should have a small section in the middle of the feet to paint the butterfly’s body. For infants, fill it in yourself. But for older Littles, let them have fun creating and using their imagination for the body! Let dry and seal with a clear coat if on canvas.
2+ Years – Fork Tulip Painting
This is a great project for toddlers and older Littles! It’s lots of fun and super easy for anyone! All you need is a piece of paper (or canvas again), some paint colors of choice (but make sure to include green!), one brush (for the green), and a fork for each remaining color. If you’re trying this with your toddler, you can start the project for them by painting only flower stems on the paper or canvas. But for older Littles, let them practice painting the stems themselves! You can paint as few or as many as you want depending on how many colors you choose! Once that’s done, pour out some of each color paint (just enough to dip the back side of the forks in). Let your Little dip the fork in the paint and place it above each flower stem and it creates little tulips! *A trick is to roll the fork up and down a couple times to make sure the paint really sticks. Let dry and seal with a clear coat if on canvas. And there you have it, an everlasting field of flowers with limited mess!
2+ Years – Washable Shower Paint
This one is great for any Little that doesn’t have the desire to shove everything into their mouth anymore! And it’s tons of fun! Plus, as much as there’s mess involved, the clean up is a breeze! All you need is some shaving cream, soap/shower gel of choice, food coloring, brushes, and a container to fit it all. (I use a muffin tin so I can just throw it in the dishwasher when all is said and done.) Simply put the shaving cream in each section, a little bit of soap, and food coloring. Mix together different colors and you’ll have washable shower paint! Plus, it’s a great way to teach your Littles how colors combine to make other colors! Let your Littles go crazy on the shower walls because the clean up is as easy as rinsing with water!
3-4+ Years – Match The Bee To Their Flower Shape & Color
This activity is great for fun and learning combined! It’s super simple too! Just print out the activities, cut out the bees, and match to their flower! I made this activity with indoor spring days in mind, and the mess is only some paper scraps! Click here for the downloadable/printable link to the Shape Matching Bee activity and here for the bees that go with it! Click here for the downloadable/printable link to the Color Matching Bee activity and here for the bees that go with that! (The color matching activity needs a color printer to work, in case you didn’t already know on your own.)
3-4+ Years – Color/Shape Match Caterpillar
This one isn’t in the video, but I’ll attach some photos so you can better understand what I’m saying. It’s easy, fun, and basically mess-free too! It’s sort of like the color and shape bee activity but it’s more in depth and gives you more time to spend with your Little. All you need is some paper, colored pencils or markers, and scissors. First you’re going to cut out large shapes and color them in different colors. Then line them up to look like a caterpillar. (You can even draw a face on the first shape to make it look more realistic.) Next, you’re going to cut out multiples of the same shapes in smaller forms. That’s it! Switch back and forth between matching colors and shapes for fun learning practice for your Little!
3-4+ Years – Springtime Scavenger Hunt
This one is a great activity to get your Little One outdoors! And it’s totally up to you whether the weather is warm and sunny or chilly and cloudy! It’s pretty self-explanatory too! A scavenger hunt for things in nature! Click here for the downloadable/printable link!
Your Turn!
Now it’s your turn! These are activities I’ve done with the children in my life or that have been recommended to me by other parents. I know I have tons of fun with each of these activities! And the mess is minimal compared to other types of crafts. Let me know if you try any of these in the comments below! Or if you have any fun ideas of your own! And for more DIYs, check out ETM’s blog here. Thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas and others alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:
With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth To Momma
