Toddler Crafts | DIY Card Making

I’m taking a break this week from our deep dive into the 12 senses to show you a recent card making activity with my toddler.

I have been involving my 2.5 year old in birthday celebrations for a few months now. Before attending a birthday celebration we talk about who’s birthday it is and make a card for them. Up until now the cards have been very simple – a watercolour painting or crayon drawing folded in half with a message written inside.

Although this card was still simple to make, it was a bit more involved. We got to practice our drawing and scissor skills, then work on gluing and pasting kite paper over a cut-out window… well maybe we just glued kite paper all over the page, but I was happy that the glue stayed on the page and didn’t end up all over the table!

Benefits of Handmade Cards for Toddlers

This simple activity holds so many benefits:

• A number of opportunities for developing fine motor skills by using crayons, cutting and pasting
• Developing the life sense and wellbeing by seeing a project through from start to finish
• Bringing a sense of ritual to celebrations
• Developing the child’s growing sense of generosity and empathy

Birthday Card Making For Toddlers

We made this card for my mother-in-law’s birthday, but this could easily be made into a Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Christmas card by changing the cut-out silhouette.

Materials

• One A4 sheet of paper
• Crayons
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Kite paper

1. Fold paper in half and cut out chosen silhouette. We chose to do a heart, but a star or Christmas tree would also work well.

2. Draw with crayons on front page of card around silhouette.

3. Cut kite paper into smaller pieces if desired (a great opportunity to work on scissors skills, as the final shape of the kite paper doesn’t really matter. Just make sure it’s big enough to cover the cut-out window.)

4. Glue around the cut-out on the inside of the card. I like to put some glue in an old jar lid and use a paintbrush to apply the glue. Much less mess!

5. Add kite paper to the glued area, being sure to cover the cut-out window.

6. Leave open to dry and write a message inside.

That’s it! A quick and easy craft with minimal set up and pack up. We completed this card within 15 minutes which is also my toddler’s maximum attention span!

How do you recognise other’s birthdays with your child? Let me know if you try this activity with your little one!