Here are our favorite DIY upcycling crafts and activities that you can make for your toddlers!
Pre-writing practice board
All you need is cardboard and a box cutter but you can also paint it however you’d like! First trace out the template and then cut out different lines. This one is great for practicing writing skills. Your toddler can trace using a stick and the indents help keep them in the lines.
Rainbow Stacking Rocks
Simple way to recreate those beautiful stacking rocks. We collected some flat rocks by our house, washed and painted them. Then they are ready to play! Practice stacking, sorting, counting… so many ways to play!
Lacing Board
We based this activity on the very hungry caterpillar, printed and taped the foods that he ate onto cardboard. Then simply cut out holes in each item and have your toddler practice lacing by threading the caterpillar through each food.
Flower petal counting
Draw flowers on cardboard with an increasing amount of petals. Using dot stickers, write down the numbers and stick to buttons. Use velcro dots to make it easier for your toddler to count and match each number to the correct flower.
Cardboard Rainbow Puzzle
A simple way to create your own puzzle! Simply paint a rainbow onto cardboard and then cut out each color stripe. Have your toddler attempt to put the rainbow back together.
Flower Color Sorting
Similar to the flower counting activity above (you can reuse the same flowers!), with this one we added a matching base made out of toilet paper rolls wrapped in construction paper. Have your toddlers place each flower into the correct holder!
Color Sorting Wheel
Have a ton of baby wipe lids? Turn it into an easy color sorting activity! Just paint them and glue onto cardboard. The lids also help your toddlers practice opening and closing.
Upcycling Crayons
Have a bunch of broken crayons? Break them up, put them in a silicone mold and bake them until the crayon melts. Easy new crayons in the shape of whatever you want!
Baby high contrast cards
These cards are great for newborns who can mainly see black & white and helps to stimulate their visual senses. All you need to do is draw some patterns and tape onto cardboard to create your own!
Color Ring Toss
Cut out the middle of paper plates and color each a different color. Using packing tape, hand these from a doorway and have your toddler throw balls into the matching hoop.
What are your favorite DIY activities? These are fun activities to make in your spare time that will keep your toddlers happily occupied.
