4 Cool Toddler Crafts Using Everyday Items

Save a small cardboard box, then let your toddler add roads, doors, or windows with large stickers and washable crayons while you cut any openings they request. A cereal box can become a garage for toy cars, while a larger shipping box can be a house for stuffed animals; choose a clean, sturdy box and handle all cutting yourself.

Put a little washable paint on a tray and invite your toddler to stamp paper with a sponge, a cardboard tube, or the flat end of a plastic cup. Try one tool at a time if your toddler prefers a simple activity, or offer two shapes so they can compare the marks; cover the work surface and set the prints aside to dry.

Tape a sheet of clear contact paper to the table, sticky side up, and offer large pieces of tissue paper or lightweight fabric for your toddler to press into place. You can add a second sheet on top when they’re done, creating a window decoration; skip tiny decorations that could go in a mouth, and supervise throughout.

Give your toddler a paper plate and washable crayons, then ask what kind of face they want to make: a person, a pet, or a silly imaginary character. You can help attach large paper ears or hair with a glue stick, but let your toddler decide where the features go; that choice is often more fun than making every piece line up.

For more ideas built around what you already have, explore our guide to easy toddler crafts using everyday household items. Our Toddler Crafts Using Everyday Items – Easy & Fun Toddler Crafts with Household Items eBook for Busy Parents is another option when you want a household-items theme for craft time.