Craft Ideas for Preschoolers

Children too young to be a part of elementary school are sent to preschool. Preschools are great platforms where tiny tots meet other toddlers their age under the guidance of a teacher. It's a place where toddlers take their first step of independence. Preschools are more or less playschools, with no formal education system. At these places, toddlers learn to interact with other children and are also exposed to loads of activities which help their overall development. Since toddlers do not like sitting in one place, it is important to keep them busy and entertained while they are at preschool. Introducing various kids craft ideas for preschoolers in their daily time at preschool, can keep them occupied and interested. Let's take a look at some craft ideas for preschoolers.

Crafts for Preschoolers

Supermarket Basket Activity
For this interesting activity, one needs construction paper, glue and old magazines. Since toddlers love getting messy, this gluing activity is thoroughly enjoyed by them. One needs to cut out a large supermarket basket (the kind children are familiar with) from the construction paper. Next, step is to cut out pictures of milk cartons, fruits, chocolate bars, bread, vegetables, and other food items available at the supermarket from the magazines. Provide each child with one basket cut-out. It's advisable to tape the basket onto the table so that the child can work easily, without the basket cut-out shifting from position. Keep the pictures of the food items on a large center table. Ask the children to come and choose their favorite food item and paste it onto their supermarket baskets.

Cookie Cutter Activity
For this activity, all one needs is construction paper and lots of plastic cookie cutters. Cookie cutters are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This is one of the simplest crafts for preschoolers, and keeps them entertained for quite some time. For this activity give the children some cookie cutters, preferably sports or animal shaped ones. Ask him/her to trace the cookie cutter onto the construction paper using a pencil or crayon. Provide crayons sets to the children to color the cut-outs. These cut-outs can be attached to a mobile and displayed in the nursery or classroom.

Cloud Activity
This activity involves the use of cotton balls, construction paper and lots of glue. One should cut the construction paper in the shape of cloud cut-outs. Give each child a cloud each and tape the cloud onto the table, so that it stays firmly in place. Provide the children with a bowl of cotton balls and a bowl of glue each. Ask them to dip the cotton ball slightly in glue and paste them onto the cloud cut-outs.

Doll Activity
This is an interesting activity which helps educate children about the different parts of the human body. For this activity, one needs different colors of construction paper. Use the skin color construction paper to obtain doll cut-outs. Using the other colors of construction paper cut out eyes, nose, lips and ears. A pretty frock cut out would also look good. Give each child, the organ cut-outs and along with some glue. One could take help from the nursery rhyme 'Chubby Cheeks' to help teach the children about their eyes, ears, etc. Help the children stick the parts at their right locations. Children like pasting the frock, since it enhances the doll's look.

Hand Print Activity
Toddlers love to play with paints and get themselves all messy, which is why they will love the hand printing activity. For this activity, one needs lots of large construction paper sheets. Lay the sheets adjacent to each other on the floor and tape them together, so as to achieve a king-size canvas. Get poster paints and have them diluted with water. Place the diluted paint in plastic trays. Ask the children to sit around the large canvas, and place enough number of paint-filled trays between the children. Ask the toddlers to dip their hands in the paint tray and make imprints on the canvas. Exchange the color trays after a while, so that each child has a variety of colors to dip his or her hand in.

These craft ideas for preschoolers are simple to conduct and are also loved by toddlers. Such crafts for preschoolers not only educate the children, but also help them to develop their motor skills, and enhance overall child development. Besides crafts for toddlers, one can even use singing and story time to entertain the toddlers.