When Mother's Day rolls around each year, teachers and other caregivers are looking for ways to create something that is easy enough for a toddler to make, but that is also going to be a keepsake. Here are a variety of activities using all different materials and are useful for more than just Mother's Day. Most require little prep as well, which is great if you have a room full of 3-year-olds to worry about. Have fun and get ready for some adorable creations!
1. Fingerprint Keepsake
There's a reason this is #1. It is the perfect gift for any mom and I adore the poem that you can print to add on and the setup is minimal. Also, with them being small, they are great for those that don't have much space, like myself. I've gotten some projects from school that I have no idea where to put them.
Learn more: Red Ted Art
2. Squiggly Yarn Heart
Sometimes we are looking for a fun activity that leaves us with an awesome kid-made gift, and this project won't disappoint. Toddlers may need some assistance with the yarn and it has the potential to be very messy, but definitely worth it. I'm torn on whether to set up the yarn for them ahead of time or not. I guess it would depend on the kids you're working with and how much time you have for it.
Learn more: Arty Crafty Kids
3. Heart Handprint Painting
These are the kinds of gifts for moms that are treasured for a lifetime. It is simple to create, with most of the time required being for the paint to dry. I would have to find wall space for this one immediately. It's perfect for siblings to create together or for a mother and child as well.
Learn more: Burlap + Blue
4. Salt Dough Footprints
Another amazing gift for mom, salt dough footprints are something to cherish forever. I remember making a handprint when I was in preschool for my mom and she still has it today. If they are cared for, they will last a lifetime.
Learn more: Red Ted Art
5. Printable Poem
I received this as a gift this past Mother's Day from my son and I absolutely adore it! It's hanging on the fridge right now, but I will keep this forever. It's such a simple project, but the impact is huge. I like it with the flower pot colored or mounted on colored paper, but you can do whatever works best for you.
Learn more: Crafty Morning
6. Celery Stamped Flowers
I've often looked at the part of the celery that is cut off and discarded and wondered if there was something to reuse it for. When I saw this, I just knew it would be the perfect project for something that is usually thrown away. The addition of pipe cleaners adds some dimension as well.
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
7. Turtle Card
This is another easy gift for kids to make and it's "turtley" cute too. All you need is some paint, cupcake liners, and a fine point Sharpie and you get a cute card. Make sure you take your time with this one, slow and steady wins the race.
Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons
8. 3D Heart Card
3D cards are great gifts for kids to make. It's a simple craft that packs a big punch and is something most kids will love to make. It doesn't have to be a rainbow either, you can change the colors to suit your likes or available supplies.
Learn more: Twitchetts
9. Whale Card
This mixed-material card is adorable! I love the use of buttons and the added photo makes for the perfect card for mom. The whale is available as a free printable template, so you won't have to worry about creating this card.
Learn more: The Soccer Mom Blog
10. Butterfly Footprint
I love, love, love butterflies and actually want to get a tattoo using my kid's footprints as the wings, just like this project! This is a homemade gift guaranteed to please any recipient and can be customized in so many ways.
Learn more: Plain Vanilla Mom
11. Handprint Bag
A Mother's Day gift that is useful too. It's such a sweet gift and can be done with one or many kids. I'd be afraid to use it because I wouldn't want it to get dirty (I can't be trusted with anything white). My grandmother would adore this!
Learn more: Chirping Moms
12. Flowers on a String Necklace
Finally, the perfect flowers to gift mom. They will last forever and can be made using any color. Fresh flowers are nice, but die too quickly, so this is an amazing alternative. Fine motor skills will get a workout stringing the flowers on as well.
Learn more: Toddler Approved
13. MOM Painting
I made a similar craft last year with my kids to gift to their grandma and they were a big hit. I put the canvases in zipper bags to contain the mess with my little one, who was 18 months old at the time, but either way works. I cut the letters out of vinyl, but you could also get bulletin board letters and tape them onto the canvases too.
Learn more: The Educators' Spin On It
14. Pour Painting Flower Pots
Paint pouring videos have been all over social media recently, so these flower pots are the perfect project. I would imagine that they take some time to dry, so don't leave them for the last minute. You may want to add the plants as well.
Learn more: Messy Little Monster
15. Watercolor Resist Painting
Use white crayons to produce a cute gift for anyone to receive and is easy to create as well. If your child can't write yet, try hand over hand or tracing. If all else fails, you can do the writing and tell them they are finding a mystery message.
Learn more: Darcy and Brian
16. Paper Printing
Here's one that can be made with some basic craft supplies and other household objects. The link used a potato masher, however, I think you could use just about anything. My potato masher isn't the same shape as the one pictured and probably wouldn't look so cool, but I have a pasta scoop that would make it work.
Learn more: No Time for Flashcards
17. Butterfly Hand Cards
Again butterflies, so naturally I love this one! It's also great to help kids with their fine motor skills with hand tracing and gross motor skills for cutting them out. If they are unable to do so on their own, then this one will take a bit more on the adult's part.
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
18. Fingerprint Keyrings
A salt dough project that is quick and easy, but will be well loved. Kids can choose a shape, make their prints and color them if they want to. They may be a little bulky to carry around with your keys, but it all depends on preferences.
Learn more: Crafts on Sea
19. Puzzle Piece Frames
Most people have puzzles with missing pieces laying around. Now you can reuse them by painting the pieces and then gluing them on tongue depressors to create photo frames. It's a great homemade gift idea for kids.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
20. Lavender Bath Salts
What a lovely DIY gif fort kids to assemble, especially for moms who enjoy a relaxing bath. Kids can also decorate the jar, to add to the gift. You can also use a different scent if mom is allergic or simply doesn't like the scent of lavender, like myself.
Learn more: Teaching 2 and 3-Year-Olds
21. Glitter Candle
I would love to get this cute candle holder as a gift. It's an easy craft for kids to put together and can be made using any color they choose. In the link, they add their own glitter, but I don't mess with that at home, so I would just buy tissue paper that already has glitter on it.
Learn more: The Art Kit
22. Photo Flowers
Photo gifts are always appreciated. These would be perfect to add to the pour painting flower pots from earlier too! Grandmas will love a little garden filled with their grandkids' faces. They could also be gathered into a bouquet for mom or grandma too.
Learn more: School Time Snippets
23. Mosaic Flowers
This is a unique colored pasta project. Most kids have made a colored pasta necklace before, but I've never seen this one. There is a level of patience and skill required to make them look like the ones pictured, but would still be cute if they turned out more abstract.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
24. Fingerprint Mugs
Mugs are a gift kids give often, so adding this personal touch, makes them even more special. Don't worry about washing them either, as you will bake them to set the paint on afterward. This can be done using any design, but the butterflies are adorable.
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
25. Suncatcher Card
Suncatchers are so pretty and easy to make. I love that these are positioned inside a card, but can be removed to keep on the window. This one is super simple to make and each will come out differently, which I love.
Learn more: Learning and Exploring through Play
26. Cupcake Liner Poppies
Know someone who loves poppies? Here's the perfect thing to make for them. These paper poppies are easy to make and don't require many supplies. Just some cupcake liners, beads, or pom poms for the centers and straws or pipe cleaners for the stem.
Learn more: Pint-Sized Treasures
27. Thumbprint Flower Pots
My son made the ladybug flower pot for me one year in school and I've been diligent with its care. These are lovely gifts for anyone and can be for many occasions beyond Mother's Day.
Learn more: Mom Always Finds Out
28. Handprint Flower Craft
Another take on handprint flowers, but using paint this time. The vases are printable, which is a great time saver and the flowers can be made from hand and footprints. They are a timeless craft with a new spin.
Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfect
29. Recycled Flowers
I love recycled art. Egg cartons are so often discarded, but this project will use them up! Plus you end up with super cute flowers that kids can paint whatever way they like. They remind me of pinwheels, which makes me wonder if these could be turned into them.
Learn more: I Heart Arts n Crafts
30. Hand/footprint Apron
I don't think I could bring myself to use this apron because it is so pretty! It's a sweet keepsake or you could use it and hope that you can wash it after use. The example looks so perfect, but I'm sure they would end up much messier with toddlers.
Learn more: Little Page Turners
31. Mason Jar Candles
I love this DIY candle holder. The battery-operated candle is much safer than a real candle too. Again it's a painting project that kids can use their imagination with and whatever colors they like, with relatively low prep involved.
Learn more: I Heart Arts n Crafts
32. Pressed Flowers
Looking for a less messy project? Here's a great one and you don't need too many supplies either. Just pick some flowers, dry them, stick them between 2 pieces of glass, and away you go! You can get different colored frames or paint them any way you like.
Learn more: Lily Ardor
33. Personalized Potholders
Original artwork is always a great choice for handmade gifts from kids. All you need are some potholders and fabric markers. Kids can draw whatever they want and produce this amazing personalized gift.
Learn more: I Can Teach My Child
34. Shrinky Dinks Keychain
Such a cute idea and I didn't realize these were so easy to make. You just need to get the special plastic and supervise younger kids with Sharpies. I would let them use any colors they want. It's also great fine motor skill practice.
Learn more: Messy Little Monster
35. Sunshine Card
A simple card that will take minimal time to prep and make, and it will be well loved. The rotini pasta is the perfect shape to use for sun rays too.
Learn more: Crafty Morning
36. Fingerprint Flower Card
This sweet card will take longer than some others, but it totally worth it. There are a lot of little fingerprints needed here, so if your child or students will need patience. This sweet card will take longer than some others, but it totally worth it. There are a lot of little fingerprints needed here, so if your child or students will need patience.
Learn more: The Crazy Outdoor Mama
37. Button Art
Button art is always cute and helps with motor skill development too. Craft glue works best to hold them on, but regular school glue should work as well.
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
38. Flower Magnets
Another easy project, kids can paint on cardstock, then you can cut out the flower shapes and add magnets. I would laminate them as well to help preserve them for longer.
Learn more: Teaching 2 and 3-Year-Olds
39. Handprint Cactus Card
For the cactus lover in your life, these cards are the perfect cards to make. I would use stickers for the flowers, but they could be drawn or glued on as well.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
40. Love Mom Suncatcher
This is another favorite of mine, I just wish there was a way to display them on the window without them fading. Kids can use any colors they like and the lettering can be varied as well.
Learn more: Hands On As We Grow
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