Oil pastels are great for using in toddler craft activities. If your toddler is comfortable with normal crayons (by this I mean they are past the stage of wanting to eat them!) then you should definitely let them play with oil pastels. Because they are oil based, they are easy to blend and smear together to create some very cool effects. I like the fact that even if your toddler doesn’t color in the whole area (and what toddler does!) they can smear the pastels with their fingers until the area is filled in. They are also great for color blending (we did a little bit of this in this activity – my daughter colored in the same area with a few different colors and then blended them altogether).
Today we made a butterfly. I admit to drawing the butterfly and helping with the cutting (oh and the glitter – ALWAYS help with the glitter unless you want to be cleaning it up for the next month!), but the rest was completed by my 2 year old. My 11 month old had a try too and with a LOT more help managed to make one as well.
What do you need:
- White paper
- Oil pastels
- Colored paper (for the border)
- Glue
- Glitter
What to do:
1. Draw the outline of a butterfly. I did this myself (I’m sure you can do better!) but you can always print one out if you prefer.
2. Let your toddler color the butterfly however they like. Encourage them to color 2 or more colors in each area so they can blend them later.
3. Blend all of the oil pastels together by rubbing your fingers over them (younger toddlers will need some help with this).
4. Cut out the butterfly
5. Glue onto a colored piece of paper
6. Cut out the butterfly again, leaving a 1 cm border of colored paper.
7. Add glitter to the butterfly.
Do you like this toddler butterfly craft? We would love it if you would share it – just click the share buttons at the top and bottom of this post!
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becky says
What a great activity! Ive never thought of using pastels, i dont know why! But we will defintely be using this idea.
Carol says
Thanks Becky. It was lots of fun and I’ve got a few more activities to post later in the week.
Veronica Lee says
How fun!
Hi! Stopping by from Mom Bloggers Club. Great blog!
Have a nice day.
Carol says
Thanks Veronica – am off to check out your blog now 🙂
Stephanie Myers says
This looks like lots of fun!! x
Steph | http://www.raisingemily.net
Anna Moore says
I would never have thought of using oil pastels with a toddler but what a great effect and beautiful butterfly she has made. I have pinned this idea for when Sophie is bigger 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #playathometeacher
Carol says
Thanks Anna – I’m enjoying the link ups!
Alice Young says
Great idea! Will keep this in mind for when Amelia is a little bigger! #playathometuesdays x
Helen Neale says
Simple but effectively – love it. My DD is butterfly obsessed at the moment so would have been perfect for her when she was a little younger. Thanks for linking up to the parenting pin it party.
Carol says
Thanks Helen
Samantha @ Stir the Wonder says
What a great craft for toddlers! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you join us again next week!
Sinea Pies says
LOVE this craft. This preschool year we are doing B is for Butterfly. The beginning of each year is a little challenging since some of my students will have just turned 3. This is PERFECT for them! They will have lots of fun.
Carol says
Thanks Sinea – glad you like it. It’s one of my favorites!
Adventures of Adam says
I have never tried out oil pastels before – looking forward to our first attempt after seeing this!