Arts & Crafts Ideas for 11 Month Olds

While working on arts and crafts may seem like the province of children past the toddler stage, chidren as young as 11 months old can benefit from exploring various areas of the arts. Parents or caregivers should choose safe, age-appropriate activities. Know that the child will not be creating a masterpiece, so don't expect much out of him beyond exploration. Set few limitations (don't let her paint the walls, but don't expect her to paint inside the lines.)

  1. Painting

    • Using sugar, cornstarch and water, create your own finger-paints, entirely edible and baby safe. Once the paint is mixed, prepare for the painting session in one of two ways: Put the finger paint directly on the high-chair tray or a table and then place clear wrap over the entire surface. He'll be able to play with the finger-paint and move it around without actually getting anything on him. If you're feeling brave, on the other hand, cover him in an old T-shirt and let him go crazy. Keep him away from walls and other surfaces that can't be cleaned easily.

    Coloring

    • Draw or cut out outlines of familiar objects and then allow your child to color them in. Discuss the objects he is coloring, and name the colors, to help him build vocabulary. Buy large rolls of paper to cover surfaces, allowing her to color wherever she wants. For crawlers, cover the floor, and for toddlers, cover a door or part of a wall.
      Special crayons designed for toddlers can be purchased (ones where they only have access to the tip of the crayon instead of the whole thing.) Either way, it's important to monitor children of this young age to make sure they don't eat the crayons.

    Crafts

    • Using unflavored gelatin and food coloring, create cubes of different colors and place them in Ziploc bags. Duct-tape the bag shut to ensure it will stay sealed. Let the child explore the bag, pointing out each color. She'll love the bright colors and unfamiliar texture through the plastic bag. Beware, though, of letting teething babies chew on the baggie. It can be easily punctured with those sharp new baby teeth.
      Create homemade Play-Doh using flour, salt, water and food coloring (optional) for your child to play with. By making your own, you'll know exactly what goes into it, something you'd be unsure of when buying it. Let him help mix it and knead it, then give him cookie cutters and plastic rolling pins to use on the dough.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • The Best Developmental Toys for 2-Year-Olds
      Help make the 2s terrific instead of terrible by introducing your child to a variety of toys and activities that will stimulate her developmental growth. At 2 years old, kids are typically more social with other children than before. They are able to
    • Toddler Activities With Playground Balls
      Your toddler is unlikely to be brilliant at throwing or catching just yet, but he can still enjoy playing with playground balls. You can set up games with these small balls that are tailored to his level of skill and allow him to practice and feel li
    • Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers
      Dramatic play provides a way for toddlers to learn about their world. Even though pretending may sometimes look like it is frivolous or that it does not provide a real learning experience, dramatic play actually helps develop vital skills. One- and t