5 Low Mess Creative Activities for Toddlers

5 Low Mess Creative Activities for Toddlers

Here are 5 low mess inventive activities for toddlers. Try these enjoyable toddler tips for engaging young kids by means of art and play.

Updated February 2022

For these of you who know me, or have been following me for some time now on social media, you know I can embrace a fantastic mess.

I like to foster possibilities for kids to get messy and discover.

But, hey, that does not imply I’ve generally been comfy about a messy circumstance with my kids or in my classes. Let’s say my adore for “messy play” was more of an acquired taste, type of like sushi. What I imply is I was not born getting a messy play ambassador!

And as a matter of truth, there are nevertheless instances in which I just do not really feel like it, and on these days, I decide on to set out other art invitations for children to develop and play with that are a bit more contained.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

I frequently get asked for activity tips that do not involve paint or the possibility of getting in one particular of these messy/sticky/gooey scenarios (exactly where you finish up spending more time cleaning up) than your children invest carrying out the actual activity.

I generally encourage parents and caregivers to let children get messy and discover all types of textures freely. By freely I imply with out an adult prepared with ten wipes in hand! Although I know there are instances exactly where you just want an effortless clean-up type of activity–and that is completely fine, I get it.

Also Read : Create Your Own Yoga Garden Sanctuary In 4 Fun Steps

There is a lengthy list of low-mess inventive activities for children that I have accomplished several instances with my personal kids and in my classes. Today I am going to share 5 of my top rated favorites.  I truly hope you give these a attempt!

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Creative Activities for Toddlers

low mess toddler activities washing toys
Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

1. Water Play

What kid does not adore water play? This is one particular of my favored inventive activities for children of all instances, since it is so basic to set up and clean up is effortless breezy.

I present water play in several distinctive methods, but I have just one particular WARNING: generally location a couple of towels or absorbent drop cloths underneath your station to protect against water from going everywhere.

I recommend utilizing a significant plastic box for the water (no will need to add a lot of water, about an inch is more than adequate).  Then bring in some plastic meals, small bowls, plastic animals, dolls, brushes, and so forth. Then add a couple of drops of shampoo to make some foam and let them wash, wash, wash.

A fantastic tip is putting a couple of added plastic boxes you might have about the home next to the bigger one particular, so spills are generally contained. Then children can work on transferring the water from one particular box to the other, which is generally engaging for younger kids.

Sensory foam for kids provides endless open ended play with cars, animals, etc
Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

2. Incredible FoamThis post contains affiliate links.

This is a weird but enjoyable provide you can get on Amazon. We adore it. It’s a great mix among, slime, clay and styrofoam but quite low mess.

Remember, the plastic box is your most effective buddy.  Always use it it is so good to include all the things. And hold reinforcing with kids that it all should remain INSIDE the box. They will get it. Eventually.

Place the foam inside a box next to some automobiles, trucks and craft sticks or any other related toy you might have on hand.

Let children discover this good sensory material. It’s sticky, but it will not stick to surfaces or clothes permanently, and it is quite effortless to clean since it all just comes collectively super quick. Plus, it under no circumstances dries out, so you can use it more than and more than once again and in endless methods.

Playdough play with toddlers including craft sticks, cds, and recycled lids
Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

3. Playdough

Always a favored. Always a crowd pleaser, at all ages.  This is a top rated one particular on my list, since I use it continually and in so several distinctive manners.

It’s a truly superb provide that will not stain or stick, and is so versatile and open-ended.

Pasta and playdough are great creative activities for kids
Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

Set it out with some uncooked pasta or with some animals and loose components. Then watch the magic of kid-led play come about.  They will develop with it, they will cook, they will dress their animals, they will use it to glue components collectively the list goes on.

Most importantly, they will be engaged for a decent quantity of time, and you will be capable to appreciate a cup of coffee or do that laundry load you have had on hold for days!

Child placing felt shapes on contact paper wall
Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

4. Sticky Wall

This is a quite low-mess activity and quite basic to set up. And did I mention, so significantly enjoyable?

Buy a roll of contact paper and tape it to the wall sticky side up. After you tape it eliminate the protective paper and bring in some felt pieces, tissue paper, feathers, foam shapes, or just about something you might have about that can stick to the paper.

Let the children get busy arranging the shapes on the sticky paper, then removing them, then adding them once again and so on.  This is so good for these hand-eye coordination abilities!

Kids painting with tempera sticks on paper
Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

5. Tempera Sticks

Paint sticks are the most effective! If you haven’t been introduced to these but you are going to adore them. 

They are as superb and vibrant as tempera paint, but they act type of like a marker (but significantly greater) plus they dry super quick!

Set these out with a substantial cardboard piece on the floor. Or at times I like to tape paper to the wall and invite the children to use them this way.

Not significantly setup or cleanup necessary for this one particular. Easy and enjoyable!

These are just a couple of of my favored low-mess inventive activities for children! I hope you give them a attempt with your kiddos. I guarantee they will appreciate them and you will not have to mop or clean significantly as soon as they are accomplished. Win win!

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5 Low Mess Creative Activities for Toddlers

Originally published in artfulparent.com