This is a fun Spring/Summer craft that can be combined with reading books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This multi-step activity can be completed all at once or in little bits throughout the day.
Fine Motor Skills
- Pincer grasp
- Hand eye coordination
- Bimanual coordination
- Tool use
Examples of Related Cooking Skills:
- Cooking tool use (spatula, masher, spoons)
- Mixing ingredients
- Stuffing pasta shells, dumplings
- Placing ingredient in targeted area such as putting on pizza toppings
Supplies:
- Toilet paper roll
- Construction paper
- Paint + paint brush
- Crayons, markers, and/or pencils
- Glue stick
- Pipe cleaner
- Googly eyes
Activity Instructions:
- Draw butterfly wings on a piece of construction paper and cut it out. Make sure the wings are big enough to fit behind the toilet paper roll.
- Toddler can paint or color (crayons, pencils, markers) butterfly wings and toilet paper roll. Set out to dry if needed.
- Poke 2 holes at the top back side of the toilet paper roll for the butterfly’s antenna. (I use a pen to poke holes)
- Insert each end of pipe cleaner through one of the holes and pull through. Roll top of pipe cleaners down making a spiral to shape the antenna.
- Using a glue stick, attach butterfly wings to the back of toilet paper roll.
- Paint or color eyes or glue googly eyes and draw a mouth
Toddler Instructions By Age: click on age range below for more details (#’s related to activity instructions)
1-2 year olds:
2. Color (scribble) or paint butterfly wings and toilet paper roll. If using paint, this will be messy and more sensory play than actual painting.
6. Using paint, help your little toddler use their index finger to paint eyes on the butterfly.
2-3 year olds:
2. Paint or color butterfly wings and toilet paper roll. In the example image, my toddler painted the toilet paper roll and colored the wings using crayons.
4. Help your toddler guide the pipe cleaner into the holes. The smaller the hole, the more help your toddler will need.
5. Help your toddler put glue on the butterfly wings and to attach it to the toiler paper roll.
6. Help direct your toddler to paint eyes using their finger or to glue googly eyes onto the toilet paper roll.
3+ year olds:
2. Paint or color butterfly wings and toilet paper roll. In the example image, my toddler painted the toilet paper roll and colored the wings using crayons.
4. Direct your toddler to place each end of pipe cleaner through the holes. The smaller the hole, the more help your toddler will need.
5. Put glue on butterfly wings and attach wings to toilet paper roll.
6. Paint eyes using finger or paint brush, or attach googly eyes.
Tips:
- You can use an ice cube tray to put out small amounts of different colored paint at once.
Recommended craft supplies: Amazon affiliate links:
- Construction paper: https://amzn.to/3ZBrdOm (colors), https://amzn.to/4n9WC4u (white)
- Glue: https://amzn.to/3HIbsz3
- Goggly eyes: https://amzn.to/4kTV510
- Ice cube trays: https://amzn.to/461wLFy (to use with paint)
- Large paint brushes with cups: https://amzn.to/448VYeP
- Pipe cleaners: https://amzn.to/3ZD6Jop
- Washable paint: https://amzn.to/3FWevTC (6 colors), https://amzn.to/4n8s8Qj (6 colors + 6 glitter colors)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book: https://amzn.to/45qlU80
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