When our babies become toddlers, we get to enter a brand new world together… the world of arts and crafts!
Oh my goodness, their first experience with glue, markers, scissors, all of those coloured pencils and crayons… the different textures and colours… all of those crafts, your little one gets to experience for the very first time. It is such a magical experience!
So, I decided to gather some of the best crafts to make with toddlers. Turns out there are a LOT of amazing craft ideas for 2-year-olds out there. Each of the craft ideas you’ll find below focuses on the processand not so much the finished product.
After all, art and crafting at this age is all about the experience!
I have found that a simple and beautiful craft or activity each and every day has done wonders for my toddler! It adds just the right amount of gentle structure to our days. This is what my Toddler Program, Playful Days is all about.
Perhaps it is time to give yourself the gift of simplicity. Stop the endless searching for toddler crafts and have one at your fingertips every day. Perhaps it is time for Playful Days!
Just before we dive into all the crafts, be sure to grab my Free Rainbow Pack! This awesome little printable is full of fun and playful ways to use these little rainbows with your toddler:
And now, on to the toddler crafts!
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If you have a toddler at home ready to dive into art exploration, let me be your guide. This is not my first rodeo, my friends. Not only am I the Mama to 4, I am also a Kindergarten teacher.
If there is one thing I know, it is arts and crafts for little kids. I have these crafts divided by theme to make it a bit easier for you to find exactly what you are after. I hope you have a wonderful time creating with your toddler!
Spring Crafts for 2-Year-Olds
Textured Bunny– We created this fun bunny at Easter time using two common household ingredients. It is a wonderful sensory-filled craft perfect for a 2-year-old. A little bit on the messy side, but a super easy clean up too.
Paper Cup Flowers– Using a marble and some paper cups, this craft is unique and fun for even the littlest of artists! The swirling of the marble in the cup is something these little kids love! Use brightly coloured paint to make this a fun and playful craft, or pastel-coloured paints to make this a pretty one.
Painting in the Rain by Little Page Turners– Exploring a craft like this is a wonderful way for little ones to learn so many things! Watch the paint colours run into one another as the water drips on the pictures.
Flower Printingby Learning 4 Kids –Painting in many different ways is a great idea for 2-year-olds. Although toddlers may not understand flower imprints, they could still paint with flowers for a wonderful experience. Liquid paints in red, orange, yellow, blue, or any colour at all is the only supply needed for this craft.
Summer Crafts for 2-Year-Olds
Yogurt Cup Wind Chimes by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails – A fun way to learn about reusing and recycling! Recycling crafts are the best! Such a great way to teach little ones about the importance of using things again and again instead of tossing them after one use.
Fly Swatter Colour Mixing byHouse of Burke – As far as crafts for 2-year-olds go, it would be hard to find one more engaging than this! Swatting paint with a fly swatter is a great way to introduce children to the idea of painting with a bunch of different modalities! The designs and patterns of the fly swatter could even make this process art pretty.
Paper Plate Sunby Buggy and Buddy – Threading onto pipecleaners is a wonderful craft idea for 2-year-olds. Fine motor skills and pincer grips get strengthened as those little hands create this beautiful yellow paper plate sunshine craft.
Fall Crafts for 2-Year-Olds
Paint Blowing: Fall Trees– Once little ones understand how to blow out of a straw, this craft is a fun way to learn about the power of air! Mix paint colours red and yellow to create orange. Painting with a straw and air is such a fun toddler experience.
Fall Leaf Letters– Collecting andsticking fall leaves is another great craft for two-year-olds. And it can be proudly displayed in a little one’s room! Using contact paper is a great alternative for little kids as there is no messy glue or time needed to dry.
Shaving Cream Jack-o-lantern – Another sensory-filled craft perfect for the Fall. This is another one that looks nice and messy, but since it uses shaving cream, the clean-up is a breeze. Little fingers will have a wonderful time dipping into this craft and spreading out the pumpkin.
Winter Crafts for 2-Year-Olds
Paper Plate Christmas Balls – Crafts like this one are so open-ended and always a favourite with toddlers. Nice and simple! Use paper plates and a few stickers to create pretty Christmas tree ornaments with your toddler.
Snow Colouring – Getting outside and enjoying the snow in a craft—this one mixes the best of both worlds! It keeps that toddler craft mess outside while keeping all of that crafting fun intact. A spray bottle with water is such a nice touch as 2-year-olds adore squeezing that handle.
Night Sky Craft by My Nearest and Dearest (link no longer available) – In the winter, my little ones are always amazed when they first see the stars—this is a wonderful open-ended craft for 2-year-olds to create their own night sky. The dark paint mixed with sparkles and gold creates such a beautiful piece of art.
Nature Crafts for 2-Year-Olds
Nature Collage by Where Imagination Grows – Exploring and creating with nature is always my go-to craft for two-year-olds. Especially crafts that can be done outside. I love the use of flowers in this art project.
Suncatcher Nature Craft by Hands On As We Grow – This is such a simple way to create with nature—and proudly display found treasures too! This is another craft that starts with a simple paper plate and a walk outside in nature before coming in to get cozy and craft.
Painted Nature Collage by Two-Daloo (link no longer available) – What a beautiful process and gorgeous outcome! Beautiful in a frame too! This toddler art project is great to do in the daycare classroom or at home around the kitchen table.
Crafts that Use Paint for Very Young Children
Print Making – This craft for 2-year-olds is a wonderful way to learn about mirror images. It can be done with finger painting or for little ones who prefer a little less mess, a brush. Print making is such a great art exploration for kids of all ages.
Painting with Horses and Manesby House of Burke – A fun activity for any little horse lover. Using yarn in a craft, especially when mixed with paint, makes for a wonderful sensory art activity.
Foil Painting by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails – Painting on different surfaces is such a neat experience for 2-year-olds. This activity uses tin foil as the canvas.
Painting Wooden Blocks by Kids Activities Blog – I love this idea of letting 2-year-olds paint on wood to use as blocks. This would also make a lovely child-made gift for a friend or sibling! Can you imagine receiving these beautiful homemade blocks?
Painting on Textureby Nurturestore– This craft for 2-year-olds is full of learning, super simple, and a wonderful chance to develop language! Toddlers can learn all about painting on rough surfaces, smooth surfaces, hard surfaces, cardboard, you name it.
Yarn Stamping by Fantastic Fun and Learning – Crafts for 2-year-olds are ideal when they are as open-ended as possible. This simple craft has endless possibilities for creating and playing! These inexpensive trays work well for play invitations like this.
Finger sponge painting by De tout et de rien – This activity is ideal for 2-year-olds who may not like getting messy or the idea of finger painting. This is a gentle activity to encourage little ones just outside of their comfort zone by using sponges attached to rings.
Painting with Droppersby Buggy and Buddy – This is a lovely introduction to watercolours and droppers for toddlers. Squeezing little pipettes or droppers is great for strengthening little hands too.
Crazy Unique Crafts!
Fancy Decorated Paper Hats by Crafting Connections (link no longer available) – No list of crafts for 2-year-olds would be complete without a paper hat craft! I love how simple this one is and how little ones could truly create it themselves.
Kandinsky Jello Art by Lalymom – A great craft idea for young 2-year-olds since it is safe to taste.
Rubberband Splat Paintingby Glued to My Crafts Blog – Crafts for 2-year-olds should be loads of fun—and this one certainly fits the bill! Use elastic bands to spray paint on paper.
Mesh Dabber Painting by Picklebums – This is a lovely way to explore prints with 2-year-olds. Colour mixing, learning about fading, and patterns will all be experienced with this easy art project.
Spin Artby The Artful Parent – A fun way to explore science and art together for toddlers. Spin art uses paint to make colourful process art toddlers love.
Cotton Pad Art by Happy Hooligans – A fun craft full of learning—and a neat sensory activity as well. Cotton pads or cotton balls make for a unique art supply.
Colourful Sponge Painting by Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds – There is so much to be learned with sponges and paint. Simple crafts are so often the best!
Toilet Paper Trees by Ramblings of a Crazy Woman – This simple craft would provide a lovely base for so many small-world play ideas!
Marble Colour Mixing by Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds – This is a fun and much less messy way of learning about colour mixing for any little ones who do not like to get messy (or Mamas!)
Even More Craft Ideas for Toddlers
Simple Tie Craft by Meet the Dubiens (link no longer available) – Crafts for 2-year-olds are fantastic when little ones can create them all on their own. While this looks super simple, it is ideal for toddlers! Grab the scissors and paper and let little ones practice their own cutting skills.
Cardboard Tube Painting by The Imagination Tree – Such a great way to learn about stamping by using a cardboard tube. This craft is perfect for a little 2-year-old hand! This messy art project is sure to delight little crafters!
Chalk Spray Paintingby Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds– Working a spray bottle is a little bit tricky for a 2-year-old—but a wonderful skill and a great way to strengthen little hands.
Simple Flag Collage by In the Playroom – Making collages are great crafts for 2-year-olds. They can practice cutting or tearing pictures and gluing them onto paper.
Bubble Painting Messy Artby Our Little House in the Country – Make sure little ones understand the concept of blowing out before trying this activity! Bubbles in art are such fun.
Tin Can Popsicle Stick Pencil Holder by Life as a Mommy – 2-year-olds can paint popsicle sticks to create this lovely child-made gift! Plant some herbs inside, or a bean plant, and you have a lovely present. This one makes a great gift for a special teacher as well.
Coffee Can Windchimesby Happy Hooligans – A lovely creative process that 2-year-olds can proudly display in a backyard tree.
Homemade Kazooby Handmade Kids Art – Painting a cylinder is a wonderful learning-filled craft for toddlers and a fun musical instrument at the end!
Glitter and Sparkle Sun Catchersby FSPDT at Sugar Aunts – A sticky, fun-filled sensory craft for 2-year-olds! This one is sure to keep excited little hands nice and busily crafting—and this is such an easy craft to set up.
Musical Art Shaker Craftby Mini Monets and Mommies – A collage out of construction paper makes for a gorgeous craft! And a toy afterward to boot!
Tin Can Friendsby We Made That (link no longer available) – Painting a tin can is such a fun craft for 2-year-olds. Add on some googly eyes, and it becomes a little character!
Introducing 2-year-olds to art is such a fun thing! I hope you have found some new ideas to try with your little one.
For everything planned for you day-by-day, you’ll want to check out my Playful Days Toddler Program. Beautiful, playful crafts and activities to add just the right amount of structure to your days.
Take a peek at Playful Days right here:
https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/playful-days
Thank you for reading, sweet friend!
xo Sarah
