Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up– Pablo Picasso

Creativity is a key component of health and happiness and a core skill to practice with kids.

So bring out the artist in you and your child. In a kids’ entertainment of expensive game systems and disposable plastic toys, there is an alternative. Make something, and play with it.

Here I am displaying some creative crafts we could engage our toddlers in, using household materials.

Craft with Paper Plates

Crown: Cut three slits through the center of the paper plate, leaving about an inch at the edges of the plate. Bend the triangles formed by the cuts upwards and decorate your crown.

Ladybug puppet:

Staple two paper plates together. Don’t staple the plates all the way round. Leave one end of the ladybug unstapled to put your hand in. Paint it accordingly and attach straws as antennae.

Craft with Cardboard Boxes

Forest Diorama:

Take a shoe box and cut one of the bases. First, make a background in your box using paint to depict a blue sky, brown soil and green plants. Bits of cotton balls glued to the sky make nice clouds. Glue your animal toys.

Steam Engine Train:

You can make this train with empty soap boxes, tins and lids.

Stand-alone Star:

Two cardboard paper stars are needed to make one three-dimensional star. Make one slit in each star. On one star, the slit goes from an inner corner to the center point of the star; on the other star, the slit goes from an outer corner to the center point. Slip the two stars together through the slits you just cut.

Craft with Empty Paper Roll:

Mini Space Rocket:

Take an empty paper roll and paint it with two bright colors. Take a circle of card and cut in to the middle and bend it around to make a cone. Take a card and make two triangles to form the fins. Glue these parts to the cardboard roll.

Craft with Egg and Egg Carton:

Egg Shell:

Take an empty egg shell. Paint your kid’s favorite cartoon characters. You can hang these as well.

Caterpillar:

Separate four to six cups from an egg carton. Make two small holes at one end for the antennae. Insert straws for the antennae. Add eyes, a mouth, and decorate.

Craft with Other Items

Flowers from Paper Cup Cake Holder:

Glue two to three paper cup cake holders. Paint them different colors. Add colored cotton balls to the middle of these. Attach straws to form stems. Use an empty paper roll as a vase.

Cat with Kitchen Items:

Draw a cat on a cardboard. Put glue on the inside of this cat. Drop Rava on this surface. Use methi or fenugreek seeds, cumin and mustard seeds for mouth, eyes and bow accordingly.

Bubble Wrap Painting:

Cut a piece of bubble wrap. Dip this in paint and stamp it on paper. You can make blue sky, green leaves and some sheep, etc.

Once you guys are done with the art work, please remember to involve your kids in cleaning up the mess.