Spring is a wonderful time to foster creativity and exploration in pre-schoolers. As the flowers bloom and the weather warms, it’s the perfect opportunity for children to connect with nature and express themselves through art. Below are some engaging spring craft ideas that we do at Young Academics to keep our pre-schoolers entertained while promoting fine motor skills and creativity.
1. Flower Collages
Materials Needed:
- Paper (various colours)
- Scissors (safety scissors for pre-schoolers)
- Glue sticks
- Markers or crayons
Instructions:
- Have children cut out different shapes of flowers from the paper.
- Encourage them to get creative by using various colours and sizes for their flowers.
- Once they have a collection, let them glue the flowers onto a larger piece of paper to create a colourful collage.
- They can use markers or crayons to add stems and leaves, enhancing their artwork further.
Benefits: This craft encourages fine motor skills through cutting and gluing, while also allowing children to express their creativity.
2. Nature Paintings
Materials Needed:
- Leaves, flowers, and twigs collected from outside
- Paint (washable)
- Large sheets of paper
- Paintbrushes
Instructions:
- Take the children on a nature walk to collect leaves, flowers, and twigs.
- Once back indoors, dip the collected items in paint and press them onto paper to create beautiful prints.
- Children can layer different colours and shapes to create unique designs.
Benefits: This craft connects children with nature while teaching them about patterns and textures.
3. Paper Plate Umbrellas
Materials Needed:
- Paper plates
- Markers or crayons
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- Optional: glitter or stickers for decoration
Instructions:
- Cut the paper plates in half to create umbrella shapes.
- Let the children decorate their umbrellas with markers, crayons, and any additional embellishments like glitter or stickers.
- Use a pipe cleaner as a handle by poking a hole in the bottom of the umbrella and inserting it.
Benefits: This activity promotes creativity and allows children to practice their cutting and decorating skills.
4. Egg Carton Caterpillars
Materials Needed:
- Empty egg cartons
- Paint (green and other colours)
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
- Cut an egg carton into individual cups for each caterpillar segment.
- Let the children paint the cups in bright colours.
- Once dry, attach googly eyes and use pipe cleaners for antennae.
- Children can create a whole line of caterpillars and even make a butterfly by transforming a couple of cups!
Benefits: This craft fosters creativity and provides an opportunity to discuss metamorphosis and the life cycle of butterflies.
5. Handprint Flowerpots
Materials Needed:
- paper (brown, green, and any colour for flowers)
- Non-toxic paint
- Scissors
- Glue
- Optional: markers
Instructions:
- Help children dip their hands in brown paint and press them onto paper to create the shape of a flower pot.
- Once dry, they can cut out flower shapes from colourful paper and glue them above the handprint pot.
- Encourage them to use markers to draw stems and leaves.
Benefits: This craft is a lovely keepsake and helps children explore colours and shapes while practicing hand-eye coordination.
6. Spring Sensory Bags
Materials Needed:
- Ziplock bags
- Hair gel or clear glue
- Small items (e.g., plastic flowers, beads, buttons, or sequins)
- Optional: food colouring for added colour
Instructions:
- Fill a Ziplock bag with hair gel or clear glue and add small items.
- Seal the bag tightly (you can tape it for extra security).
- Let the children squish, poke, and explore the bag, discovering the items inside.
Benefits: Sensory bags provide tactile experiences, promoting sensory exploration and fine motor skills.
Spring crafts for pre-schoolers not only spark creativity but also offer valuable learning opportunities. Whether it’s exploring nature or creating colourful artworks, these activities help children develop essential skills while having fun.
Sources:
- https://fun-a-day.com/spring-crafts/
- https://www.redtedart.com/spring-crafts-for-preschoolers/
- https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/spring-crafts-for-preschoolers/
- https://dayswithgrey.com/17-spring-crafts-for-kids/
- https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/spring-crafts/
- https://happyhooligans.ca/10-spring-crafts-for-kids/
- https://littlescholarsnyc.com/crafting-together-spring-crafts-for-preschoolers/
- https://preschoolplaybook.com/spring-crafts-for-preschoolers-creative-ways-to-celebrate-the-season