If you don’t know that I like to craft, then we haven’t met. Hi. I’m Jenna. I like to craft. Imagine my deeeelight when I found out that I was having a girl. Craft buddy! I have been pushing the limits with crafting and Ellen. She might not be ready for all I am throwing at her, but I think she is still having fun in the process. I have an awesome guest post for you today from Miho, author of mihosuzuki. She is sharing 4 fun and safe crafts for your 1-year-old! Thanks, Miho!

4 fun and safe crafts for young kids: these diy crafts are perfect for your baby boy or baby girl. The best part? The recipe for non-toxic stamp ink!

Children love to craft because it allows them to learn and get creative with different fun items. The majority of craft projects available today are made for children aged 3 and up, however, babies as young as 1 can also benefit from simple crafts as well. As long as the babies are closely supervised with safe, non-toxic crafting materials, they can get in tune with their gross and fine motor skills, while also learning all about the new objects that are placed before them. To get a better idea of some safe crafts that 1-year-olds can take part in, consider the following:

4 Fun and Safe Crafts for 1-Year-Olds

Crayon Art

The only things needed for this craft is a couple of jumbo non-toxic crayons and a very large sheet of paper. Babies do not understand crafts at this point in life; however, they can get creative with a few simple movements.

Give the baby one jumbo crayon while you hold the other. Direct the baby’s hand to the page and apply some pressure to draw a line. Show them large sweeping motions and even stippling on the paper to see if they can mimic it as well. If they manage to scribble a few things on a piece of paper, this “baby’s first” can then be framed as a lovely memory.

Homemade Play Dough

Play dough is fun for all ages and babies are certainly no exception. Since babies tend to put everything in their mouths, it’s easy to make non-toxic dough, simply by using a few simple ingredients.

Non-toxic Play Dough Recipe:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup salt

1 sachet Kool-Aid (sugar free version)

1 cup boiling water

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

Mix all of the ingredients and knead for a couple of minutes.

This dough will cost a few cents to make and it ends up soft and smooth like the store bought kind. The different colors will give the children visual interest and the softness of the dough will make it easy to grip and squeeze.

Stamping

It may seem like stamping is far too advanced for a 1-year-old to do, but there are ways to introduce this fun craft with non-toxic (and even edible) ink. Whether they are store bought stamps or homemade ones, the most important things to remember are a large stamping surface and a large easy-to-grip handle.

Homemade Non-toxic Stamping Ink:

1 – Boil 2 cups water.

2 – Add I chopped red beet or 1 cup berries.

3 – Boil for several minutes until liquid reduces by half.

4 – Add 1 teaspoon cornstarch to thicken and allow to completely cool.

Once the homemade ink is made, place it on a paper plate. Thoroughly wash the stamp before giving it to the baby and supervise closely. Place a large blank sheet of paper on a flat surface with a few pieces of tape to hold it in place. Help the baby along by holding the stamp with them, dipping it in the ink and stamping around on the paper.

Hand and Foot Prints

Finger painting is another very fun craft activity that children absolutely love. This is also one that babies can take part in as well. As long as they are helped by an adult, they will be able to create adorable prints using their hands and feet. Not only will the babies learn about different textures and sensations with these prints, but they will also be able to work their gross motor skills (with a little help).

You will need:

A large sheet of blank paper.

2-3 colors non-toxic play paint.

2-3 paper plates.

A wet towel (for clean up)

Begin by placing a small amount of non-toxic play paint on a plate (use a different plate for each color). Place a large sheet of blank paper on a flat surface. Remove the baby’s socks and gently press their foot into the paint. Quickly place their foot on the paper and then wipe it clean. Do the same with handprints.

The hand and foot prints can be arranged randomly on the page or as different patterns. If the baby is patient enough, it’s even possible to create an arc pattern to resemble a rainbow.

Crafting with 1-year-olds is educational and a fun bonding experience for families. Although there are many people who believe they are incapable of crafting, there are a few wonderful crafts that can be done with loved ones.

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Miho loves to create fun and educational children’s activities. She has worked as an early childhood educator for several years and enjoys posting creative craft ideas through her blog, mihosuzuki.