8 DIY Mother’s Day Crafts for Toddlers to Make (That Moms Will Actually Love)

Mother’s Day is awesome. We get breakfast in bed (even if the toast is cold and the orange juice is accidentally spilled on the duvet), and we get to spend the day with the tiny humans who made us moms in the first place.

But if you’re a mom blogger, a dad looking for an activity, or just a crafty human trying to survive a toddler, you know the struggle. You want a gift that says, “I love you, Mom,” not, “Here’s a glue-soaked popsicle stick I found under the couch.”

I’ve been there. I once received a “masterpiece” that was 90% glitter and 10% tears (mostly mine). So, I’ve curated a list of eight Mother’s Day crafts that are actually doable. They require minimal supplies, they don’t require a fine arts degree to execute, and—most importantly—they result in a gift a mom will want to display rather than hide in the recycling bin. 😉

Let’s get sticky.

The Golden Rule of Toddler Crafts

Before we dive into the chaos—I mean, fun—we need to establish one hard and fast rule. Lower your expectations.

Seriously. If you expect a perfect replica of a handprint flower, you’re going to be disappointed. If you expect a mess and a vaguely flower-shaped blob of paint, you’re going to be thrilled. The goal here isn’t perfection; it’s the memory of making a mess together. And coffee. Definitely have coffee ready.

1. Handprint Flower Bouquet

This is a classic for a reason. It’s cute, it’s personal, and it captures a moment in time that disappears way too fast. You know, back when their hands were tiny and not covered in something sticky 24/7.

What You’ll Need:

• Washable paint (Please, for the love of your carpet, buy washable paint. Crayola is my go-to.)
• A paintbrush or a sponge
• White cardstock or thick paper
• Green pipe cleaners or construction paper
• Glue
• Markers

Let’s Make It:

1. Paint your toddler’s hand with green paint for the stem. This will inevitably lead to tickles and giggles. Go with it. It’s part of the charm.
2. Press their hand firmly onto the bottom half of the paper. This is the “stem” of the flower.
3. Clean off the green paint (good luck!), and then paint their hand with a bright color like red, yellow, or pink.
4. Press the painted handprint above the green stem to create the “flower head.” The fingers become the petals.
5. While it dries, you can have a snack. You’ve earned it.
6. Once dry, use a marker to add a stem and leaves if needed, or glue on a green pipe cleaner for a 3D effect. Write “Happy Mother’s Day” and the year on the bottom. Trust me, you’ll forget when this was made.

2. Salt Dough Heart Keepsake

Salt dough is the undisputed champion of toddler crafts. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and you can make something that will literally last for years. Plus, it makes you feel like a pioneer woman, even if you’re just mixing flour and water.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of salt
• 1/2 cup of water
• A mixing bowl
• A rolling pin
• A heart-shaped cookie cutter (or a knife to freehand it)
• A straw
• Acrylic paint and a sealant (like Mod Podge)

Let’s Make It:

1. Mix the flour and salt in the bowl. Let your toddler stir it. It will go everywhere. This is fine.
2. Slowly add the water and mix until a dough forms. If it’s too sticky, add more flour.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface. This is a great sensory activity for little hands.
4. Roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness.
5. Cut out heart shapes. If you don’t have a cookie cutter, just cut out a heart shape with a knife. Imperfect hearts are the best hearts.
6. Use the straw to poke a hole at the top of the heart. This is for the ribbon later. Don’t forget this step! I have a hole-less heart from 2019 that is currently sitting in a drawer because I have nowhere to hang it. :/
7. Bake at 200°F (or the lowest your oven goes) for 2-3 hours, or until completely hard. You can also just air-dry them for a couple of days.
8. Once cool, let your toddler go to town painting them. You can then seal it with Mod Podge to make it shiny and durable.
9. Thread a ribbon through the hole, and you’ve got an ornament for the tree or a permanent wall hanging.

3. Thumbprint Dandelion Art

This one is genius because it uses tiny thumbs to make something that actually looks like a deliberate piece of art. It’s a great way to make those little fingerprints feel special, rather than just a consequence of stealing your cookies.

What You’ll Need:

• White cardstock or watercolor paper
• Washable ink pads in assorted colors (or paint)
• A black or brown marker
• Green paint or marker for the stem

Let’s Make It:

1. Using the marker, draw a few long, slightly curved lines coming up from the bottom of the page. These are the dandelion stems.
2. At the top of each stem, use a brown or black marker to draw a small circle or oval. This is the seed head.
3. Now for the fun part. Show your toddler how to press their thumb onto an ink pad or into a thin layer of paint.
4. Help them press their inky thumb all around the brown circle to create the dandelion “seeds” or petals. The thumbprints should radiate outwards.
5. Repeat with different colors to make a whole field of dandelions.
6. This is one of those crafts where the mess is minimal and the payoff is huge. It looks incredibly sophisticated when it’s done.

4. Painted Flower Pots

Moms love plants. Toddlers love dirt. This is the perfect marriage of interests. We’re not planting anything yet (that’s a whole other level of mess), but we’re making the home for the plant beautiful.

What You’ll Need:

• A plain terracotta pot (get the small ones, they’re cheap!)
• Acrylic paint (it sticks best to terracotta)
• Paintbrushes (sponges work well too)
• A clear acrylic sealer spray
• A sharpie

Let’s Make It:

1. Clean the pot to get any dust off.
2. Let your toddler paint the pot. They can do solid colors, stripes, or just go crazy with abstract expressionism. It will look amazing regardless.
3. Let the paint dry completely. This is crucial. Wet paint + toddler = painted floor.
4. Once dry, use the Sharpie to write “Mom” and the year on the bottom, or even help your toddler write their name on the pot.
5. Take the pots outside and spray them with the clear sealer to protect the paint from water and weather.
6. You can either plant a small flower or herb in it, or just put a cute succulent in there. Add a little tag that says “Water me as much as you love Mom” for an extra cheesy touch.

5. Tissue Paper Suncatcher

This craft looks complicated, but it’s basically just sticking bits of paper to sticky stuff. It’s a foolproof activity for toddlers because the “sticky” factor is endlessly entertaining. And the result lets Mom see the world through rose-colored glasses (literally).

What You’ll Need:

• Contact paper (this is the secret weapon of toddler crafts)
• Tissue paper in various colors, cut into small squares
• A piece of cardstock or construction paper
• Tape
• Scissors

Let’s Make It:

1. Cut a large heart shape out of the center of a piece of cardstock. You’ll be left with a cardstock frame. This is your “frame.”
2. Cut a piece of contact paper that’s slightly larger than your heart frame.
3. Peel the backing off the contact paper and stick it to the back of your cardstock frame. The sticky side should be facing you.
4. Tape the whole thing to a table or window (sticky side up) so it doesn’t slide around.
5. Give your toddler the tissue paper squares and show them how to stick them to the contact paper.
6. They will stick. They will unstick. They will eat it (probably). Let them fill the entire sticky area with color.
7. Once it’s covered, cut another piece of contact paper (same size) and stick it to the back to seal all the tissue paper in.
8. Trim the excess. Tape it to a window. When the sun hits it, it’s pure magic. IMO, this is one of the most rewarding crafts because it looks so professional.

6. “Reasons I Love Mom” Book

This one requires a bit more supervision and talking, but the result is an heirloom. It’s a tiny book filled with your toddler’s actual thoughts, which are guaranteed to be hilarious and heartwarming.

What You’ll Need:

• Several pieces of white cardstock or paper
• A stapler
• Markers, crayons, or paint
• A pen for you

Let’s Make It:

1. Fold 4-5 sheets of paper in half to form a book. Staple along the fold to bind it.
2. On the cover, help your toddler write “Happy Mother’s Day” and their name.
3. On each page, start a sentence that your toddler will finish. For example:
   • “I love it when my mom…”
   • “My mom makes the best…”
   • “My mom always says…”
   • “I like to hug my mom when…”
   • “My mom is funny when she…”
4. Write down their answers exactly as they say them. These are the gold.
5. Let them draw a picture to go with each sentence. It doesn’t have to match. The drawing of a “spaghetti dinner” might look like a purple blob, and that’s perfect.
6. Read it back to them. You’ll both be in stitches.

7. Button Heart Craft

This is fantastic for fine motor skills. Picking up and placing buttons is like a fun workout for those tiny fingers. It also results in a piece of art with great texture.

What You’ll Need:

• A piece of canvas or heavy cardstock
• A pencil
• A glue bottle (the kind with a precision tip is best)
• A collection of buttons in various sizes and colors (pinks, reds, whites work great)
• A small bowl for the buttons

Let’s Make It:

1. Lightly draw a large heart shape on the canvas or paper with a pencil.
2. Pour the buttons into a bowl. FYI, toddlers love sorting things, so let them sort the buttons by color or size first if they want.
3. Show your toddler how to squeeze a small dot of glue inside the heart shape.
4. Let them pick up a button and press it onto the glue.
5. Repeat until the heart is filled with buttons. It doesn’t have to be perfectly packed; a little space between them is fine.
6. Let it dry completely (flat!) overnight before you try to hang it up.

8. “Mom, You’re the Bomb” Bath Bombs

Okay, this one is technically more of a “mommy and me” activity, because the ingredients can be sensitive. But if your toddler is past the “everything goes in mouth” stage, it’s a fantastic sensory project. Plus, it gives Mom the gift of a quiet, relaxing bath. And don’t we all need that?

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid (you can find this in the canning section or online)
• 1/2 cup Epsom salts
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2-3 tablespoons of a carrier oil (like coconut oil or sweet almond oil)
• 1/2 teaspoon of essential oil (lavender is great for relaxation)
• Witch hazel in a spray bottle
• Bath bomb molds (or a regular muffin tin)
• A large mixing bowl
• A whisk

Let’s Make It:

1. In the large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salts, and cornstarch. Make sure there are no clumps.
2. In a small bowl, mix the carrier oil and essential oil.
3. Slowly drizzle the oil mixture into the dry ingredients while your toddler helps stir. It should look like wet sand.
4. Here’s the key: Lightly spritz the mixture with the witch hazel while stirring continuously. You only need a few spritzes. The mixture should hold together when you squeeze it in your hand. If it fizzes, you added too much liquid. Don’t panic, just keep stirring.
5. Let your toddler help pack the mixture firmly into both halves of the bath bomb mold. Really pack it in there!
6. Press the two halves together firmly, give them a little twist, and carefully unmold.
7. Place the bath bombs on a tray to dry for at least 24 hours.
8. Wrap one in a cute bag with a tag that says, “Mom, You’re the Bomb!”

The Grand Finale

So there you have it. Eight ways to channel your toddler’s boundless energy and questionable artistic skills into a gift that will genuinely make a mom’s day. Remember, the best part isn’t the final product. It’s watching them concentrate so hard their tongue sticks out. It’s the paint on their nose. It’s the proud little voice saying, “I made this for you, Mommy.”

Happy crafting, and happy early Mother’s Day to all the moms out there holding it together with coffee and craft supplies. You’re doing amazing. ❤️

Now, go hide the glitter.