Mother's Day Children's Crafts

Calling all Dads and child carers...Mother's Day children's crafts especially for you!

On Mother's Day, children get the opportunity to appreciate and understand the value of the mothering they receive, while mothers (hopefully) are honoured with a well-earned pat on the back to keep them going for the next 12 months!

Here are some creative ways that little ones can tell their mum (or mom) and grandma how much they care. These Mother's Day children's crafts are easy enough to be activities for 2 year olds and some of them you'll find that 1 year olds can do too.

Here are some Mother's Day children's craft ideas...

Create a special banner for the occasion

1. Cut some left over wall paper in half long ways
2. Write 'I love Mummy' (or Mommy) in big, chunky bubble or bold writing on one half
3. Cut the letters out while leaving the rest of the paper intact, creating a stencil
4. Paper clip your stencil on top of the other half of the wall paper
5. Place some paint (in Mum's favourite colour) in a plate and find an old sponge
6. Either strip your toddler down to their nappy (diaper) or pop an old shirt or apron on them
7. Let your child sponge paint to their heart's content, while you slide the paper along so they cover it all
8. Glitter would make it look extra special (if you don't mind the stuff, it does trend to travel)
9. When your child's finished, gently peel off the stencil and leave flat to dry

Mother's Day children's crafts should definitely involve a personalised handmade card!

A Decorated Framed Photo

This could be made into a gift or a card. The follow instructions are for a card.

1. Choose a photograph of your child. If it's the normal (4" by 6") size, a folded A4 piece of coloured card (card stock) will work nicely (if you're in the USA, that's Letter size). For a toddler carefully draw around the photo with a pencil on a scrap piece of paper, cut it out and blue tac (white tack) it on the card where the photo will go. Explain that they should only glue and stick around the egdes since a photo's going to go there, but it doesn't matter if they forget. For an older child, you could just draw the outline of the photo straight on the card. It's best if you can make the outline a tiny bit smaller than the photo so the lines will be hidden when the photo is in place.
2. Provide glue and a variety of collage bits and pieces such as: craft feathers, foam shapes, pom pom, tissue paper either cut into small pieces or scrunched up, shiny shapes etc and let them create a masterpiece.
3. When they have finished, replace the paper in the middle with the photograph.

Cup or Mug Design Mother's Day Card

This is particularly good toddler project.

1. Draw and cut out a simple outline of a tea cup and saucer or a coffee mug on coloured card (card stock) in Mum's favourite colour.
2. Find something to print with (a duplo piece, a cotton reel or a commerically made painting stamp) and place a small amount of paint on a plate.
3. Dress your child for mess (as I mentioned above) and let her do some printing on the picture.
4. Make some 'springs' by cutting two thin strips of card (card stock), placing them overlapping each other at right angles, then folding them one on top of the other until the resulting 'springs' are about an inch or so long. Make 2 to 4 springs depending on the size and how wobbly you'd like the design to be. When the paint's dry, tape the springs to the back of the picture and then onto a folded piece of A4 card (card stock) in a contrasting colour.

Flower Power

This is a great toddler crafts activity too.

1. Draw and cut out a simple childlike flower with big petals on card (card stock) about A5 size (half of the American Letter size). Cut out a circle that's the same size as the stamen (the centre part of the flower) in contrasting coloured card (card stock)
2. Prepare and let you pre-schooler paint the flower (don't worry if he paints the centre too)
3. Ask your little one to make a collage or colour on the stamen piece
4. Back to the springs idea as in the Cup or mug card. You'll need 4 springs. Tape 3 springs to the back of the flower and onto the folded piece of A4 card (card stock). Use the last spring to attach the stamen to the flower.

Let her show off her creative skills

I think this is the best Mother's Day children's craft for the older ones.

White or light coloured card (card stock) is best. Simply fold a piece of A4, provide coloured pencils or felt tips (markers), show them which side to draw on and then let their creativity go wild!

Why I Love Mum (or Grandma) Jar

Ask your child what they like about their Mum or Grandma, what makes them laugh or smile, what they like doing with them etc., then write each statement on a strip of paper and put them in the jar.

You could scribe for a pre-schooler or an older child may like to do it all themselves including cutting the positive statements into strips. Even a toddler can decorate a label to put on the jar.

Designer Gift Wrap

Buy plain gift wrap and an ink pad with interesting ink stamps. Let your little one design their gift wrap. Be aware though that ink pads become very messy in little hands.

I hope you enjoy doing these Mother's Day children's crafts with the little one in your life. Mum will be touched and impressed - with your effort as well as her child's!

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