Sunflowers, those bright and cheerful giants, bring sunshine not just to gardens but also to our hearts. And what better way to celebrate these happy flowers than with some fun and easy crafts perfect for toddlers?
Crafting with little ones isn’t just about creating adorable keepsakes; it’s about fostering creativity, developing fine motor skills, and spending quality time together.
So, grab your paints, paper, and some sunflower inspiration!
Here are 29 delightful sunflower crafts that will keep your toddler entertained for hours:
Paper Play:
Paper Plate Sunflowers:
This classic is perfect for beginners. Paint a paper plate yellow and let it dry. Once dry, help your toddler cut out brown circles for the center. Use buttons, seeds, or construction paper cutouts to create the seeds.
Fingerprint Sunflowers:
A messy but fun activity! Paint your toddler’s thumb yellow and let them press it onto a piece of paper to make the sunflower head. Add details with paint or markers for the center and stem.
Confetti Sunflowers:
Punch out yellow circles from construction paper. Glue them onto a paper plate or cardboard in a circular pattern to create the sunflower head. Let your toddler decorate the center with confetti or glitter!
Fork-Painted Sunflowers:
Dip a plastic fork in yellow paint and stamp it onto a piece of paper to create a unique sunflower design. Add a brown circle and green stem for a complete picture.
Paper Loop Sunflowers:
Cut strips of yellow paper. Help your toddler curl them using scissors (adult supervision required!). Glue the curled strips onto a paper plate or cardboard to form the sunflower petals. Add a brown paper center and a green stem.
Sensory Delights:
Puffy Paint Sunflowers:
Mix yellow paint with shaving cream to create a puffy texture. Let your toddler spread it on a piece of paper to create the sunflower head. Add details with regular paint or markers when dry.
Pom-Pom Sunflowers:
This one’s great for developing fine motor skills. Glue yellow pom-poms onto a paper plate or cardboard to create the sunflower head. Add brown buttons or felt for the center and a green pipe cleaner for the stem.
Cotton Ball Sunflowers:
Glue cotton balls onto a piece of paper to make the sunflower head. Separate some cotton balls and let your toddler fluff them up to create a textured effect. Add a brown circle in the center and a green pipe cleaner stem.
Paper Bag Sunflowers:
Decorate a brown paper lunch bag with yellow paint or construction paper to create the sunflower head. Cut out brown circles and glue them on top for the center. Crumple green tissue paper to form the leaves and glue them to the sides of the bag.
Textured Sunflowers:
Glue different textured materials like felt scraps, yarn pieces, or buttons onto a paper plate or cardboard to create a unique and tactile sunflower.
Nature’s Touch:
Seed Sunflowers:
This craft uses real sunflower seeds! Glue a paper plate or cardboard yellow. Help your toddler carefully press sunflower seeds onto the yellow surface to create the sunflower head. Leave some space for a brown paper center in the middle.
Leaf Sunflowers:
Collect large, flat leaves on a nature walk. Paint them yellow and let them dry. Once dry, decorate them with markers or paint to create a sunflower design.
Flower Pot Sunflowers:
Repurpose a plastic flower pot by painting it yellow or orange. Glue brown buttons or felt circles onto the pot for the center. Add green pipe cleaner stems with paper leaves attached.
Beyond Paper:
Playdough Sunflowers:
Use yellow playdough to create the sunflower head. Roll small brown balls for the center and stick them on. Add green pipe cleaners for the stem and leaves.
Egg Carton Sunflowers:
Cut out sections from an egg carton. Paint them yellow and glue them together in a circular pattern to create the sunflower head. Add a brown circle in the center and a green pipe cleaner stem.
Sock Sunflowers:
This craft is perfect for upcycling old socks! Cut the toe off a yellow sock and stuff it with cotton balls to create a 3D sunflower head. Tie a ribbon around the base to secure the stuffing. Add brown felt for the center and green felt leaves.
Spoon Sunflowers:
Paint a plastic spoon yellow. Cut out a brown circle and glue it onto the bowl of the spoon for the center. Add green pipe cleaner stems with paper leaves attached.
Arts and Crafts Extravaganza:
Collage Sunflowers:
Cut out different shades of yellow paper squares, circles, or even flower shapes. Glue them onto a piece of paper to create a vibrant sunflower collage. Add a brown paper circle for the center and draw a green stem.
Washi Tape Sunflowers:
Use colorful washi tape to create a fun and easy sunflower design on a piece of paper. Make stripes, swirls, or even a mosaic pattern using different colored tapes. Add a brown circle and a green pipe cleaner stem for a finishing touch.
Beyond the Craft Table:
Sunflower Stamping:
Carve a simple sunflower design out of a potato or cork. Dip it in yellow paint and let your toddler stamp away on paper or fabric to create a sunflower pattern.
Sunflower Suncatchers:
Cut out sunflower shapes from clear contact paper. Let your toddler decorate them with colorful tissue paper pieces or paint dots. Cover the entire design with another layer of contact paper to seal it. Hang them in a sunny window for a beautiful sunflower suncatcher effect.
Sunflower Sensory Bin:
Fill a bin with yellow crinkled paper, dried beans, or corn kernels. Add small plastic sunflowers, buttons, or other sunflower-themed toys. Let your toddler explore the textures and create their own sunflower world.
Sunflower Play Dough Mats:
Print out pictures of sunflowers or create your own simple sunflower outlines. Laminate them for durability. Let your toddler use yellow and brown play dough to fill in the shapes and create their own sunflower masterpieces.
Learning Through Play:
Sunflower Counting:
Cut out large sunflowers and small yellow circles (seeds) from construction paper. Glue the sunflower onto a piece of paper. Help your toddler count and glue the yellow circles onto the sunflower to practice their counting skills.
Sunflower Matching Game:
Cut out identical pairs of sunflower shapes from construction paper. Let your toddler find the matching pairs and talk about the colors and shapes involved.
Sunflower Sequencing:
Create a simple sequence of pictures depicting the growth of a sunflower seed into a full-blown flower. Let your toddler arrange the pictures in the correct order to practice sequencing skills.
Sunflower Song and Dance:
Find a fun and catchy sunflower song online (there are many!) and play it for your toddler. Encourage them to dance around and move their bodies like happy sunflowers swaying in the breeze.
Bonus: Story Time Fun!
Read Aloud:
Snuggle up with your toddler and read a book about sunflowers. There are many wonderful children’s books that feature sunflowers as the main character or explore the beauty of nature. Discuss the story afterward and talk about the different parts of a sunflower.
Sunflower Puppet Show:
Make simple sunflower puppets using paper bags or felt. Let your toddler create a little puppet show with their sunflower and other flower or garden-themed puppets.
Remember:
- The most important thing is to have fun! Crafting with your toddler should be a joyful experience for both of you.
- Adapt the crafts to your toddler’s age and abilities. You can always simplify the steps or offer more guidance as needed.
- Get messy! Some crafts are bound to involve paint, glue, or other materials that can get a little messy. Embrace the mess as part of the creative process.
- Most importantly, let your toddler’s imagination run wild! Let them personalize their crafts and add their own unique touches.
With these sunflower crafts and activities, your toddler can explore their creativity, learn about these happy flowers, and create adorable keepsakes. So grab your supplies, put on some sunny music, and get ready to have some blooming good fun!
