Get Busy with Spring Break Crafts for Kids

Yarn Eggs by Mod Podge Rocks

The kids are home for Spring Break, and chances are you could use a few craft ideas for entertaining them. Here are 5 Spring Break arts and crafts that are sure to keep them busy!

1. Yarn Eggs

Our first Spring Break craft idea from Mod Podge Rocks could pass as an Easter-time craft, but really it works any time of year. It’s a fun project for school-age kids who will love the process and the end result – big, colorful orbs to hang in their rooms. You’ll need thin cotton yarn, balloons, craft glue, newspaper, waxed paper, a clothespin and a hanger. The project involves making a watered-down glue mixture, dipping strands of yarn in it and and wrapping around a balloon. Once dry, you pop and remove the balloon, and you are left with a funky, colorful egg.

2. Spring Blossom Painting

The blogger from Toddler Approved created the idea for this gorgeous painting that is worthy of hanging on a prime spot on your walls. Check out her handy tutorial for a detailed how-to that includes photos of each step. Be assured that it’s a simple project involving materials you likely already have in the house, which is perfect for crafts for Spring Break… watercolor paper, paint and a Sharpie is all you need!

Blossom Painting by Toddler Approved
Blossom Painting by Toddler Approved

3. Chalkboard Flower Pots

We’ve tweaked this Spring Break craft a bit to make it more kid- friendly.  The day before you tackle this project with the kids, paint a few flower pots with chalkboard paint. The ingenious paint now comes in nearly every color of the rainbow.  Once dry, big kids they may enjoy embellishing the pots with trim, ribbon or buttons (similar to the project shown here). Kids of all ages will love using the colorful pots to plant a few fast-growing seeds or actual flowers or plants you’ve picked up from the home improvement store or local nursery, and then decorating their pots with chalk drawings that can be erased at whim.

Chalkboard Flower Pots by Paint Me Plaid
Chalkboard Flower Pots by Paint Me Plaid

4. Button Flowers for Counting

This cute craft helps young kids count and learn to associate numbers. It’s simple, too.  Help kids use green Wikki Stix  (wax covered yarn sticks you can bend and mold to any shape) to make stems and leaves for flowers and attach to a piece of white paper.  Children can then attach a button to the top of the stem (the Wikki Stix will adhere the button so no glue is necessary). Label the stems of the flowers with any numbers the children are working on.  Have the children place the corresponding number of buttons on top of the flowers.

Button Flowers for Counting by Sixty Second Parent
Button Flowers for Counting by Sixty Second Parent

5. Bunny Paper Plate Photo Frame

Here’s a cute Spring Break craft that even the tiniest tots can handle. Simply cut the middle out of a paper plate, paste cotton balls on the remaining circle, and staple two bunny ears made from additional plates and also covered in cotton balls You can either paste it around a photo of your child’s face (like a frame) or tie a string from side-to-side on the back and make a fun mask.

Bunny Love by I Love 1st Grade

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Get Crafty with Spring Crafts for Preschoolers

Dare we say it for fear of jinxing ourselves? Spring is almost here! Despite the cold weather most of the country is still fighting, Spring is officially only weeks away. Let’s mark its long-awaiting arrival with some fun, simple crafts for parents or sitters to tackle with preschoolers who will love creating these adorable bunnies, chicks, flowers, Easter eggs and rainbows.

 

Spring Crafts for Preschoolers

Happy Cloud and Rainbow
Spring showers often bring rainbows – create your own with curly ribbon. Instructions via Meet the Dubiens.

via Meet the Dubiens
via Meet the Dubiens

 

Shaving Cream Easter Egg
Promised to be far less messy than it appears, this craft is pure tactile fun for little hands! Instructions via Little Wonders’ Day.

via Little Wonders' Day
via Little Wonders’ Day

Toilet Paper Roll Bunny
It’s always nice to pull art supplies from the recycling bins, and who doesn’t love a project with googly eyes!? Little ones will need some extra assistance gluing tiny pieces and drawing the bunny face. Instructions via Eco Scrapbook.

via Eco Scrapbook
via Eco Scrapbook

Fabric Scrap Garden
An adorable garden made from scrap fabric, pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks. This one looks cute as a wall hanging. Instructions via Spoonful.

via Spoonful
via Spoonful

Paper Plate Chick
Super simple, super cute craft for little ones. Instructions via Simple as That.

via Simple as That
via Simple as That

For more great ideas for creating fun art and crafts with kids, check out UrbanSitter’s Pinterest Board – Crafts for Kids. 

Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids

How about arming your babysitter with Valentine’s Day craft ideas and supplies for your kids to create special treats for family and friends? You’ll have happily occupied kids, a grateful babysitter and a few special gifts, too.

Here are five sweet ideas for your little ones to get crafty:

1) Fun Craft for Bigger Kids – Matchbox Valentine Boxes

matchbox valentines by inchmark.squarespace.com

Kids love tiny things, and who can blame them? These tiny packages made out of matchboxes and filled with candy are adorable. (You’ll want one, too!) Easy to create, the boxes can be customized with as much or as little as your crafter likes. Tape a strip of craft paper to cover them [Cut a piece of paper 2″ high (or the height of your matchbox) and about 4″ long (enough to wrap it around)], slap on some stickers, or paint or draw your own decorations… and tie with a bow. Since they are so teeny, a bag of candy is all you’ll need to fill a whole slew of them. M&Ms work well, and you can buy the pink and red ones for VDay.

2) Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards with Crazy Crayons

crazycrayons by innerchildfun.com

We love this crazy cute Valentine, particularly because it includes a kid-approved treat that isn’t candy – Crazy Crayons. Here’s the perfect use of all the bits and pieces of broken crayons you undoubtedly have at the bottom of your arts and crafts box. Crazy Crayons take what’s old and turn it into colorful, useful, Valentine gifts for classmates and friends. Your kids will love the crayon “demo” and the big reveal (once the bits bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then chill in the frig). A heart muffin tin is especially cute to use, and these free printables stapled to the top of a Ziploc bag make the Valentine especially easy to package.

3) The Perfect Project for Preschoolers – Heart Flowers

Photo by Puttisworld

You’ll need red, pink and green construction paper, craft or popsicle sticks, glue, scissors and a couple of markers to create these happy Heart Flowers. Your sitter can help by cutting out four red/pink hearts for the flower and two smaller green hearts for the leaves of each flower. Your child can glue them to the paper, overlapping to form a flower, adding the stick for a stem and leaves, too. Once dry, draw a face and any Valentine’s Day message you choose. Instructions and photos here, thanks to Putti’s World.

4) Get Cooking for a Tasty Snack (or Gift)

Photo by Workathomegal.com

Take it easy on your sitter by leaving her all the trappings for a low-fuss treat she and the kids can bake and decorate. Depending on your child’s age and familiarity with baking, choose either a roll of refrigerated cookie dough, a boxed mix for cupcakes, or the easiest route – premade, undecorated cookies or cupcakes from the bakery or grocery store. Most will agree the best part of baking holiday treats is decorating them, so go all out on decorations. You could include several colors of candy sprinkles or sugars, maraschino cherries, dried coconut, tubes of frosting, chocolate chips, and candy hearts.

5) Homemade Decorations to Cherish Year After Year

Photo by Kaboose

We know, we know, it’s another craft with crayons, but we couldn’t help ourselves. This craft is worth picking up an extra set of crayons so you can tackle it, as well as the melted crayon Valentines. So pretty to hang in a window, these stained glass hearts are a perfect way to brighten dreary winter days. You can make them by melting crayon shavings between waxed paper using an iron set on low. Hang them with a loop of string or ribbon after cutting out hearts. Experiment with different color combinations, and make sure the sitter knows not to take her eyes off the hot iron or melted paper until they have cooled.

Hope you, your kids and your sitter love these Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids as much as we do!

7 Fall Crafts for Preschoolers

fall crafts for preschoolers

Celebrate fall by making these 7 fall crafts for preschoolers! With kids going back to school and Halloween coming up, there’s a lot happening this season.

Leaf hedgehog fall craft for preschoolers

1. Leaf Hedgehogs

Decorating leaf hedgehogs is a fun way to celebrate the leaves changing and explore outside with your kids. The best part is that every kid’s hedgehog will look unique! Messy Little Monster has a printable hedgehog image that doubles as a guide for the leaves and a coloring sheet.

For this Leaf Hedgehogs fall craft you’ll need:

  • Hedgehog printable
  • Leaves
  • Glue
  • Brown crayon, marker, or colored pencil
Easy apple tree fall craft for preschool kids

2. Easy Apple Trees For Preschoolers

Making these apple trees with construction paper and toilet paper rolls is simple and fun! This craft can be a way to discuss how apples grow or even the legend of Johnny Appleseed to your children. After creating a tree with construction paper, children can decorate their trees with apples made by stamping toilet paper rolls in red paint.

For these Easy Apple Trees (via Happy Home Fairy) you’ll need:

  • Green, white, and brown construction paper
  • Glue
  • Red paint
  • Toilet paper roll
Leaf rubbings

3. Leaf Rubbings Fall Craft

Leaf rubbings are a classic outdoor craft for fall in preschool and beyond! Your kids can experiment with different colors and shapes of leaves to create their own unique art piece with lots of interesting textures.

For the Leaf Rubbings (via National Nordic Museum) you’ll need:

  • Leaves
  • Paper
  • Crayons
Scarecrow paper bag puppet fall crafts for preschoolers

4. Paper Bag Scarecrow Puppets

This fall craft is fun for both preschool kids and older kids, plus kids make their own toys to play with. More advanced crafters can build their own scarecrow puppets using paper bags. Simple Everyday Mom has a printable template with lots of pieces they can use to decorate their scarecrow, or kids can freestyle and design their fall-themed puppet however they’d like. 

For the Paper Bag Scarecrow Puppets you’ll need:

  • Brown paper bag
  • Colored cardstock or construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
  • Scarecrow template
Paper plate pumpkin mask

5. Paper Plate Pumpkin Masks

This fall craft uses items you already have at home and is a great way to get preschoolers excited about dressing up for Halloween! One Creative Mommy has step-by-step instructions and photos to lead you through this craft. 

For the Paper Plate Pumpkin Masks you’ll need:

  • Orange paper plates
  • Adhesive craft vinyl or black construction paper
  • 1 straw or stick
  • 1 popsicle stick
  • Milk jug lid or other shapes for eyes
  • Scissors or razor
  • Marker or pencil
  • Tape or glue
Spooky forest craft

6. Spooky Forest Fall Craft

This craft is fun, a little spooky, and handy for family time outside. Gather twigs in your backyard or on a local nature walk, then glue them onto a piece of black construction paper and add googly eyes to create your own spooky forest. 

For the Spooky Forest (via Craftulate) you’ll need:

  • Twigs
  • Googly eyes
  • Black construction paper
Mummy kids fall craft for preschoolers

7. Mummy Kids

Help kids transform themselves into spooky, scary mummies! This craft is easy enough for preschoolers and perfect to get them excited about Halloween. The instructions are simple:

  1. Cut out a body shape from black construction paper, using a gingerbread cookie cutter as a stencil if needed.
  2. Cut out your child’s head from a photo and tape it to the paper body.
  3. Use masking tape to “wrap up” the paper body.

For the Mummy Kids (via One Child) you’ll need:

  • Scissors
  • Black construction paper
  • Masking tape
  • Photo of child
  • Gingerbread cookie cutter (optional)

 

Looking for more ways to celebrate fall with your children? Check out our favorite fall activities and delicious one-pot dinners that are perfect for fall!

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4 Fun Holiday Projects that Make Great Gifts from Kids

sock snowmen

Hopefully you’ve taken advantage of UrbanSitter to score a sitter or two so you can get out to enjoy a holiday party or take care of some shopping without the kids. Why not make it fun for the kids and a little easier on the sitter by leaving them with instructions and supplies for holiday crafts to tackle together?

We’ve selected four crafts that will score big points with kids and are simple enough as to not to stress out the sitter. What’s even better? These crafts make awesome homemade gifts. Your kids will love wrapping their masterpiece and will beam with pride when they deliver it to a lucky recipient this holiday season.

Our top four, fun-to-make, homemade gifts, along with instructions and a handy shopping list for each:

  1. 1. Salt Dough Hand Print Ornament

Those tiny hands, whether they belong to your newborn or your 7-year-old, won’t last for long. These classic handprint ornaments made with salt dough are an adorable, touching way to cement a moment in time.  You’ll cherish them so much, you won’t want to give them away… so have the sitter and your kids make one for you, too.  Click for instructions.

Here’s what you’ll need to leave the sitter:

4 cups of flour

1 cup salt

Food coloring

Large Mixing Bowl

Cookie sheet

Canola oil

Small rolling pin

Drinking straw

Ribbon

Photo by Stephanie Severin
Photo by Stephanie Severin

2. Magnified Magnets

This is a good project for bigger kids who have better focus and dexterity than their younger  siblings. Half the fun of the project is hunting down tiny pictures to fit on the back of glass pebbles. Good places to search for images include: scraps of wrapping paper, Christmas cards, homemade drawings, and thumbprints made with a stamp pad. Simply cut out the image and glue it right side up to the flat side of a glass pebble. Once dry, glue a magnet to the back of it. The blogger gives you more detailed instructions, and lots of photo for inspiration.

You’ll need the following, available from a craft supply store:

3/4 inch circle punch

Glass accent marbles/pebbles

Adhesive

Stamp pad

Craft paper, wrapping paper, cards

¾ inch magnets

3. Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels

pretzels
Photo by: food.com/938006

This is a yummy cooking project for kids of various ages.  Everyone can help break up the chocolate; older kids, with the help of a sitter, can dip the pretzels into melted chocolate (candy canes work well for dipping, too); and little ones can sprinkle and/or roll pretzels in crushed candy, sprinkles, nuts or coconut. There is no shortage of recipes for this one, but here’s a favorite of ours.

You’ll need:

Pretzels rods or candy canes

Chocolate chips or melting chips

Candy, sprinkles, nuts, coconut – anything you want to roll them in

Wax paper for cooling pretzels

4. Sock Snowmen

sock snowmanThis adorable craft is perfect for kids and a great way to repurpose those lonely socks missing their match. 🧦 These no-sew snowmen are as fun to make as they are to display, and they make a fantastic holiday gift or decoration.

Simply fill a white sock with rice, tie it off to form the body and head, and then decorate with buttons, fabric scraps, and markers to create a snowman full of personality. It’s a mess-free, kid-friendly craft that doesn’t require glue or advanced crafting skills.

You’ll need:

  • White socks
  • Rice (or stuffing material)
  • Rubber bands
  • Fabric scraps or ribbon
  • Buttons
  • Markers

For full instructions, check out this guide.

Have you found other holiday crafts for kids that your kids are going ga-ga for? We’d love to hear about them. Please share with us!

The Best Christmas Crafts for Kids: Top 5 Picks

Christmas crafts for kids

There’s no better way to add a sprinkle of festive joy to your home than with Christmas crafts for kids. If you’re searching for easy and delightful holiday crafts for kids, Christmas paper crafts, or preschool Christmas crafts, you’re in the right place. These projects will not only keep your little ones entertained but also add a dash of seasonal cheer to your home. 

holiday crafts for kids

 

1. Felt Christmas Ornaments

Let your child’s creativity shine with felt Christmas tree decorations. Cut out various shapes and let your kids design ornaments using felt, buttons, sequins, and ribbon. Hang them on the tree or give them as personalized gifts to family and friends.

For this easy felt ornament (via One Creative Mommy), you’ll need the following:

  • Assorted colored felt sheets
  • Jute, twine, or ribbon
  • Small sticks
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Buttons, sequins, and ribbon
festive paper plate wreath

2. Festive Paper Plate Wreath

Gather some green paper plates, colored paper, and glue. Cut holly leaves, berries, and a bowtie from the colored paper. Then, have your child glue them onto the paper plate. Hang it up on your door to welcome guests with a warm, festive greeting. Kinder Craze has step-by-step instructions and photos to lead you through this craft. 

For these festive paper plate wreaths, you’ll need:

  • Paper plates
  • Green tissue paper
  • Scissors
  • Red Pom Poms
  • Red Cardstock Paper
  • Glue
  • Marker/Pencil
  • Stapler
cardboard tube snowmen

3. Cardboard Tube Snowman

Don’t throw away those cardboard tubes! They can be transformed into these adorable snowmen Christmas crafts for kids. Paint the tubes white and decorate with buttons, construction paper, and a tiny scarf. These little snowmen are a great way to upcycle and craft the perfect holiday project for kids.

For these cardboard snowmen crafts (via Emma Owl), you’ll need:

  • Cardboard tubes
  • White wool, string, or twine
  • Googly eyes
  • Orange foam or cardboard
  • Buttons 
  • Marker 
  • Sticks
  • Pipe cleaner and pom-poms.
  • Glue 
preschool christmas crafts

4.Santa’s Reindeer Handprint

In search of fun preschool Christmas crafts? Look no further. Help your child paint their hand with brown paint and stamp it on paper. Add a red nose and googly eyes, and you’ve got a cute reindeer. It’s a fun way to create holiday memories with your little ones.

For the hand-print reindeer (via Simple Everyday Mom) you’ll need:

christmas paper crafts

5. Sparkling Snowflakes

Create your own winter wonderland with these sparkling snowflake Christmas crafts for kids. All you need are some white pipe cleaners, beads, and a little imagination. Have your child thread the beads onto the pipe cleaners, shape them into snowflakes, and voilà, you’ve got some beautiful Christmas paper crafts!

For this snowflake craft (via Toddler Approved) you’ll need:

  • Popsicle sticks
  • Hot glue gun
  • White glue
  • Sequins, buttons, glitter, or jewels
  • Dot Markers

Looking for more ways to celebrate the holidays with your children? Check out our post on Festive Kids’ Crafts That Are Good Enough to Eat. Now, roll up your sleeves, gather your craft supplies, and let the holiday fun begin!

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4 Fun Ideas to Celebrate Grandparents Day

grandparents day ideas

We all have stories about the wonderful ways our own Nana and Papa (or someone else’s) have touched our lives. Whether your stories are about the rich family traditions handed down to your children, the warmth of a home and the sweet smells that come from it, or about how these special people love your children as unconditionally as you do, find a way that’s just as unique as they are to show appreciation for all they bring to you and yours.

Here are 4 unique ways to celebrate Grandparents Day:

1. A great fun-to-make, heartwarming-to-give craft. This unique, paper flower photo frame that kids can help create comes together with just paper, glue, and a bit a love.

2. Customized calendar with photos of your family together. Services such as CVS make it easy to use photos you already have to create a last-minute gift that lasts the whole year. Be sure to include photos of you, your children, and grandparents (and great grandparents!) sharing special moments or occasions, holidays and milestones.

3. Our Grammy and Pops Book.  Together with your kids create a book chock full of all the things that make its recipients so special. Have your children draw pictures of their grandparents, and fill in sentences such as “I love it when my grandma and grandpa….” Even very young children can contribute to this project. Little kid drawings can be the most touching, don’t you think?

4. Family Dinner Celebration. Host a special night for your guests of honor, making it extra meaningful by tackling Grandma’s favorite recipes or serving foods that are family traditions. Children can cap off the meal by providing the entertainment, such as a dance performance, song or play.

Book a babysitter on UrbanSitter and let them take charge of Grandparents Day arts & crafts!

7 Simple Kid’s Crafts for Mother’s Day

Mother's Day Art, Simple Art Projects for Mother's Day, Mom Art

Why not surprise a mom by helping her kids create a heartfelt, homemade gift to show their love this Mother’s Day? Roll up your sleeves, gather the supplies, and let the crafting begin! Here are 7 simple DIY gifts kids can create with a little help from you to make any mom feel special:

1. Mother’s Day Coupon Book

Download our Mother’s Day Coupon Book printable template to make an extra-thoughtful gift mom with coupons for “washing the dishes,” “folding the laundry,” and even “one hour of quiet time.” Have your little one color in and draw on each coupon to personalize it. Complement your coupon book with an UrbanSitter gift card!

mother's-day-coupon-book

2. Yarn Wrapped Bottles

Older kids can dive into a fun (and sustainable!) art project by creating yarn-wrapped vases for Mom. All you need are empty bottles, colorful yarn, and a pair of scissors. These beautiful vases are an easy and charming way to present a few flowers on her big day. 

  • Gather your supplies: Empty bottles, colorful yarn, scissors, glue.
  • Prep the bottles: Remove labels and clean thoroughly.
  • Start wrapping: Tie a knot at the top and start wrapping, securing with knots or glue.
  • Switch colors: Experiment with different yarn colors for a vibrant look.
  • Finish it off: Tie a knot at the end, trim excess yarn, and tuck loose ends.
via Huffington Post
via Huffington Post

3. Craft Stick Flower Pot

Another fun, easy craft for kids to do on Mother’s Day is to create a colorful flower pot. Find a recycled can or other small container, craft or popsicle sticks, and some glue. After the flower pot is finished, fill it with her favorite plant for a long-lasting gift that will keep her smiling.

  • Gather your supplies: Recycled can or container, craft sticks, glue, paint (optional), favorite plant.
  • Prep the container: Ensure it’s clean and dry.
  • Create the base: Glue craft sticks around the container.
  • Decorate: Add colors, drawings, or stickers for a personalized touch.
  • Fill it up: Fill the pot with Mom’s favorite plant once dry.
via Somewhat Simple
via Somewhat Simple

4. Baby Feet Butterflies

If you’re looking for an easy art project for Mother’s Day for a baby, using their fingerprints or footprints is a wonderful way to create sentimental art. One homemade gift for mom from a baby is to dip the baby’s feet into non-toxic washable paint and create footprints. After the paint has dried, turn them into butterflies with just a few swipes with a marker.

  • Gather your supplies: Non-toxic, washable paint, paper, and marker.
  • Dip and print: Dip baby’s feet in paint and make footprints on the paper.
  • Let it dry: Allow the paint to dry completely.
  • Add details: Turn footprints into butterflies with marker strokes.
  • Personalize: Write a message or date for an extra personal touch.
via Pinterest
via Pinterest

5. Tissue Paper Flowers

Truly a classic and perfect Mother’s Day craft for toddlers! Who doesn’t love a few tissue paper flowers, and even more so if they were created by the little ones they love. WikiHow tells you how to make them three ways. Gather the tissue paper, follow a few easy steps, and let the kids create a bouquet of love that Mom will adore.

  • Gather your supplies: Tissue paper, scissors, pipe cleaners.
  • Stack and fold: Stack several layers of tissue paper and fold accordion-style.
  • Secure in the middle: Use a pipe cleaner to secure the folded tissue paper in the middle.
  • Trim the edges: Round the edges or cut them into desired shapes.
  • Fan out petals: Carefully separate the layers to create a full bloom.
via Rust and Sunshine
via Rust and Sunshine

6. Craft Stick Jewelry Box

For the elementary kids, a simple Mother’s Day craft is this beautiful keepsake box. All they need to make this box are craft sticks or recycled popsicle sticks and embellish them with anything from beads, sequins, buttons, drawings, or even stickers. Mom will love storing her treasures here.

  • Gather your supplies: Craft sticks, glue, embellishments (beads, sequins, buttons), and paint (optional).
  • Create the base: Arrange craft sticks to form the base of the box.
  • Build the walls: Glue additional sticks to create walls.
  • Decorate: Add embellishments, drawings, or paint for a personalized touch.
  • Let it dry: Allow the box to dry completely before using or gifting.
via Spoonful
via Spoonful

7. Flower Photos

A free printable background, cupcake liners, construction paper, and favorite photos are all it takes to make these adorable flower photos. Photos of children’s faces are cut into 1.5-inch circles and pasted to the center of the flowers.  Once completed, these can be used to make a Mother’s Day card or a picture frame. For a picture frame, either buy a new frame or find an old picture frame and just remove the glass to make room for the 3D flowers.

via Raising Arizona Kids
via Raising Arizona Kids

 

More Mother’s Day Crafts…

As you delve into the joy of crafting DIY Mother’s Day gifts, why not expand your creative horizons with more crafting ideas? Consider handprint flowers, playful pom-pom projects, endearing handprint hearts, or versatile salt dough creations. Happy crafting, and may your celebration be filled with love and creativity!

Homemade Mother’s Day crafts like these are the ones that will truly touch her heart. She’ll appreciate the time and effort you made to help the kids create such meaningful Mother’s Day crafts. UrbanSitter.com gift cards make great gifts, too!

10 Preschool Activities to Engage Your Little Ones

preschool activities

Are you a parent looking for engaging and educational activities to do with your preschool-aged children? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of 10 fun and interactive preschool activities that will keep your little ones entertained while also promoting learning and development. 

From math to science, art to literacy, these activities cover a range of subjects and are designed to be easy and enjoyable for both kids and parents. The best part is, you can do these activities using supplies you already have at home. So let’s dive in and explore the wonderful world of preschool activities!

Our Favorite DIY Preschool Activities

1. Color Sorting Train

color sorting train activity for kids

Let’s start with a colorful and engaging activity for preschoolers that will help your kids practice their sorting skills and learn about colors. Create a color-sorting train using toys or objects of different colors. Set up different colored carts and encourage your little ones to sort the items into the correctly colored carts. This activity not only promotes color recognition, but also improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Learn More: Fun Learning For Kids

2. Sort & Count Bottles Math Activity

count and sort bottles preschool activity

Take sorting to the next level by incorporating counting into this math activity for preschoolers. Gather empty bottles and fuzzy pom poms in different colors. Label the bottles with numbers and colors. Your preschoolers can then sort the correct number of pom poms into the matching colored bottle. This math activity not only reinforces color recognition, but also introduces basic counting skills.

Learn More: The Imagination Tree

3. Counting Flower Petals Math Activity

counting flower petals activity

Combine outdoor time with counting practice by engaging your preschoolers in a flower petal counting math activity. Head outside with your little ones and let them pick flowers. Encourage them to count the petals on each flower they find. This activity not only reinforces number recognition, but also allows children to connect with nature and develop their observation skills.

Learn More: Hands On As We Grow

4. Number Activity With Grain Bins

number grain bin activity for preschooler

If your child already has a farm or dump truck, this number activity is one of the best math activities for preschoolers out there. Create “grain bins” using containers and fill them with small objects like beans or pasta. Label each bin with a number and challenge your little ones to unload the correct amount of “grain” into each container. This math activity for preschoolers promotes number recognition, counting skills, and fine motor development.

Learn More: Hands On As We Grow

5. Clothespin Counting Wheel

preschool activity: counting wheel

Engage your preschoolers’ fine motor skills with this counting activity using clothespins and cardboard. Create a counting wheel with numbered sections and provide clothespins with numbers on them. Your little ones can practice their number recognition and counting by matching the clothespins to the corresponding section on the wheel. This activity is not only educational but also helps develop hand strength and coordination.

Learn More: Keep Toddlers Busy

6. Alphabet Clothespin Activity

hang up alphabet activity

Introduce your preschoolers to the alphabet with this easy DIY clothespin activity. Label clothespins with letters and invite your little ones to pin the letters in the correct alphabetical order. This activity promotes letter recognition, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. It’s a great way to make learning the alphabet fun and interactive.

Learn More:What Do We Do All Day

7. Seashell Alphabet Activity

seashell alphabet for preschool activities

Bring the ocean to your preschoolers’ learning experience with this seashell alphabet activity. Label seashells with letters and bury them in a sensory bin filled with sand. Your little ones can dig for the shells, arrange them in alphabetical order, and even practice pronouncing the letter sounds. This DIY activity combines sensory play with letter recognition, making learning fun and engaging.

Learn More: Pre-K Pages

8. Fine Motor Pizza Shop

fine motor pizza shop for preschool activities

Unleash your preschoolers’ creativity and fine motor skills with this pizza shop activity. Provide paper and scissors for your little ones to cut out different pizza toppings. They can then use their fine motor skills to assemble their own paper pizzas. This art activity for preschoolers not only promotes fine motor development, but also encourages imaginative play and decision-making.

Learn More: Frugal Fun For Boys And Girls

9. Fizzing Dinosaur Eggs Science Activity

dino eggs science activities for preschoolers

Take sensory play to the next level with these homemade fizzing dinosaur eggs. Create dinosaur-shaped bath bombs using simple ingredients and let your preschoolers watch in awe as the eggs hatch and fizz in water. These kinds of science activities for preschoolers combine sensory exploration with science and encourage curiosity and observation skills.

Learn More: Frugal Fun For Boys And Girls

10. Construction-Themed Sensory Bin

math activities for preschoolers: sensory bin

If your preschoolers love construction and building, this sensory bin is perfect for them. Create a construction-themed sensory bin using materials like sand, rocks, and toy construction vehicles. Your little ones can explore the textures and elements of a construction site while engaging in imaginative play. This activity promotes sensory exploration, creativity, and fine motor skills.

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Finding the Perfect Sitter for Your Preschooler

While engaging in these fun and educational preschool activities with your little ones, it’s important to have support and assistance when needed. UrbanSitter connects families with trusted sitters and nannies who have experience with preschool-aged kids.

Search and filter for sitters who specialize in caring for preschoolers, ensuring you find the perfect match for your family. With UrbanSitter, you can have peace of mind knowing your little ones are in good hands while you take a well-deserved break or attend to other responsibilities.

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Seasonal Craft Activities for Preschoolers

Looking for more seasonal activities to do with your preschoolers? Check out our article on Fall Crafts for Preschoolers for a variety of fun and engaging ideas that celebrate the beauty of autumn or get crafty with Spring Crafts for Preschoolers.

Engaging in these preschool activities will not only keep your little ones entertained, but also promote their learning and development. From sorting and counting to sensory exploration and imaginative play, these activities cover a range of subjects and skills. 

Plus, you can easily do them using supplies you already have at home. So gather your materials, get ready for some fun, and enjoy quality time with your preschool-aged children as they learn, play, explore, and imagine. Happy learning!

Related: 6 Ways to Help Your Child Adjust to Preschool

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Got 1 Minute? 3 Art Games to Boost your Kid’s Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving and Visual Recall

By Ruthie Briggs-Greenberg

It’s Monday. You have to get your kids to school, and you’re only on your first cup of coffee. What can you do that will help them think better and not annoy you? An art activity! What, you ask, is an “art activity”? It’s something that exposes kids to art. Why should you do it? According to the National Endowment for the Arts, kids with more art experiences had higher GPAs than kids who lacked those experiences. How do you start? Pour that second cup of coffee, set the timer for 1 minute and do one of the following:

GAME 1: (The timer is set, right? Did you pour that second cup of coffee?) Ask Junior “How many things can be done with spoons?” Now wait. If Junior hasn’t had breakfast, they might say, “I don’t know.” But, if Junior just had a bowl of sugary goodness, the answer may be, “You can eat with spoons, dig with spoons… Uhhhhhh…..” Then Junior may fall silent. This is where you say, “Keep going…”  Junior may come up with one more answer, something involving “you can fling a spoon.” The minute will pass.

What’s the answer? An unknown number of things can be done with spoons. Think outside of the box, or in this case, the silverware drawer.  This idea of thinking beyond what is obvious frees your child’s mind to use their imagination.  Imagination leads to solutions. Let’s get back to the spoons.  If you weld spoons together, you could build skies, or a wall, and then you could make a house of spoons, (no, it’s not cheating, I never said, “a spoon,” or that the spoons had to remain in their original form). The question leads your child, and you, to think strategically to solve a puzzle. This method of thinking creatively frees up your mind to design, imagine and build ideas that don’t exist. That’s how art starts. You’ve spent a minute and engaged in strategic thinking.

GAME 2: Grab a pencil and a piece of paper. Ask Junior to draw a bicycle with circles, and lines. Did you set the timer for one minute? If your coffee has kicked in, you can try it too. What does this game do for Junior? It makes them think about design principles of how shapes fit together for practical use. If you want a hint, a very basic bike can be drawn using 5 circles and 11 lines. Wait a minute, how is this art, you ask? It is art because it involves organizing shapes and lines and creating a design. So you’ve just covered design, which fits under problem solving.

GAME 3: Open the cupboard and let Junior look at it for 8 seconds. This is not the time to obsess over the fact that there is high fructose corn syrup in half of the breakfast cereals. Close the cupboard. Ask Junior, “How many colors can be made from the colors on the boxes inside the cupboard?” You’ll probably get this, “I don’t know”. Who thinks about cereal boxes and art? Ask Junior to open the cupboard and see if there is red, yellow and blue inside, if so, you have the three primary colors. All colors can be made from the three primary colors. Play a color addition game (go on, the first part wasn’t even 20 seconds). What is red plus yellow? Orange. Was there a yellow box on your shelf? A blue one? Sure there was, everyone has that blue box of pasta on the second shelf, so now you have yellow plus blue. You get the picture. Now you’ve covered visual recall.

Wow, look at you, covering strategic thinking, problem solving and visual recall all before your 3rd cup of coffee! Junior used art, or thinking about art, to fire up those synapses before class. Thinking about art will carry over into other areas of study, such as math, language, and science. Ultimately art allows individuals to create something from nothing by strategically analyzing a problem and solving them. If you have five minutes, tour the world’s greatest museums online. This may lead to conversations about the historical context that art was created in, or the purpose of art. If you ask Junior what they think about a painting they are looking at they may say, “I don’t know”. That’s ok, school doesn’t train our kids to think of possibilities, it teaches kids to have answers. Get Junior thinking and they will come up solutions to all kinds of life situations. 1 minute art games lead Junior to strategic thinking, problem solving and visual recall, and you did it all without a 4th cup of coffee.

Photograph by D Sharon Pruitt via Flickr/Creative Commons