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We are throwing a birthday party for our daughter who is about to turn 3. We'll have about 7 kids there ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 5 and I'm trying to think of an activity, preferably a craft activity that they can do. Ideally, I'd like to come up with something they can make that can also serve as a party favor in lieu of a gift bag full of little stuff.

It's going to be very cold, so we can't go outside, unfortunately. It would be nice to think of something that won't cause a huge mess. I'm stumped.

Can you think of anything that they might all be able to do? I think the 5 year olds will be good sports even if it's something a little beneath them because they're sweet kids and they're very good with my daughter. It seems that so many craft projects are kind of beyond a 3 year old still. I saw a make your own puzzle kit that was pretty cool, but I have to admit that my daughter really isn't drawing recognizable pictures yet, so I'm not sure how she'd figure out how to put the puzzle together .

Thanks a bunch!

Anne

[momofMikhail]

I love crafts, here are some craft ideas I've used with my kids on this site!

Toddler Crafts

[robandjulie]

DD at three adored puzzles but every kid is different.

For DD's 3rd birthday we got those foam stickers with letters and flowers and birds and got each kid a styrafoam hat/crown which they decorated. She had an outdoor summer birthday, though. Not as useful for winter.

Right now our kids are crazy for macaroni art: color a bunch of different pasta shapes a bunch of different colors*, then either draw a shape with glue or outline a simple coloring page with glue and let them place it all. You can also use straighter noodles to string necklaces, bracelets, etc.

*to do the pasta put some rubbing alcohal (about 1/4 cup) and some food coloring in a zipper bag, fill 1/2 way with pasta, seal and shake/swish until it's all coated. Let sit for about an hour, shake and flip a bit, set another 30 mins, then dump out on newspaper to dry (takes about 2 hours to dry). DO NOT eat the pasta.

[Disneycrazed]

My daughter went to a showing of Tinkerbell and after the movie they had all the children make Magic Fairy wands. SOOOO CUTE. There was a long stick/ Cardstock Star Glued to the end with streamers coming down. The kids were able to decorate these with glitter paint/markers/stickers etc....
They all had such a good time and My daughter still loves hers.

[mildredjohn]

we went to a party and they did this activity:
Hire someone to tell a story, a game and then end the activity with an artwork that they can take home. I went to one, it was in a room in a church. They sat the kids in the floor, talk about an artist and then in the tables they gave them like flat boxes with edges of course. Inside they put a white paper, and in different bowls paint of different colors and different sizes of small balls (pebbles). The idea is to put the ball in the bowl of paint, with a spoon transfer the ball to the box and start moving the ball from left to right up and down. They can do this with different colors until the whole paper is covered. Once is done the person pick up every box with the paper and let them dry and after that is frame it with plastic frames that you could find in an art store.
While the artwork is drying and framing - You could do pizza and juices, sing the birthday song, cut the cake, eat it and we are almost done. By then it's been like two good hours so it's time to go!

[shelbydog]

We went to a party where they did this and it's awesome....

Buy the little cheap wooden picture frames from a craft store. Have the kids paint/decorate the frame - you can use glitter, paints, stickers, foam thingies.

Take a picture of each child at the party with the Birthday child. Send the frame home with the child, and tell them the photo will be forthcoming. You then develop the film (or print the digital photo) and mail it with the thank you card so they can put it in their little frame. You can also use magnet frames that they can hang on the fridge.

[Waiting4OURBOY]

Not an idea on a craft but something to do at the beginning of the party. At Ben's 3 y.o. Birthday party he had a Superhero theme. We printed out pictures of all kinds of different superheroes and Barbie and stuff for the girls and ran copies. this was mainly for at the beginning of the party. We ran out of pictures. Actually, the adults began coloring them and we couldn't get the kids to do anything else!!!! It definitely kept them busy!

[Melina's Mom]

For my daughters 4th birthday party I purchased sweatshirts for the kids & fabric paint I laid out a vinyl table cloth in the kitchen & let them go to town on the shirts. I did it early in the party so when they left they could take home there shirt.... I had kids at her party from 2 yrs old ( her brother) 3yr olds, & 4yr olds. depending on where you live you could do sweatshirts or tee shirts, tank tops.. Good luck..

[jenniferw223]

Sand art. For my sons birthday party we had a buzz lightyear theme so I ordered space ship and planet bottles from oriental trading and bought the sand at Michaels. The kids loved it and they got to take their projects home.

[momofMikhail]

If you want to use sand art. The best is crushed up fruit loops as sand. This way you do not have to worry about anyone putting the sand in there mouth.

[adcollins]

Wow! Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. I'm going to have to keep all these in a file for future birthday parties too.

Thanks again!

Anne