Marshmallows make for a fun and sweet craft, a winning combination for kids.
Little do kids know, they’re having fun and learning at the same time!
- Developing their fine motor skills
- Learning letters and numbers
- Counting
And best of all, a sweet treat at the end of the activity!
Materials:
- Mini marshmallows
- Printer Paper or construction paper
- Marker, crayon, any writing tool
- Choose 1
- Scissors
- Glue
- Cup of water with paintbrush
With only a few everyday items, the options are endless on what you can do!
Step 1 - Design Element
On a sheet of paper:
- Write your child’s name
- Draw shapes, animals, etc.
- Have child draw a picture
- Cut paper into fun shapes: bunnies for spring, snowman for winter, heart for Valentine’s Day, etc.
Tip: Make sure the drawing is big enough and not too detailed so the marshmallows aren’t all squished together and you can’t make out the final masterpiece.
Step 2 - Sticky Business
Scissors
If using scissors, cut the marshmallows in half and place them sticky side up. Kids can then grab the marshmallows and stick them onto the drawing.
Note: The scissors end up sticky and will need to be rinsed every so often.
Water with Paintbrush
If using water, dip a little bit of water either on the paper or the marshmallow. This will melt the marshmallow a bit, creating a sticky surface.
Note: This was the messiest and least effective option for my kids!
Glue
If using glue, go over the outline of the drawing with a little bit of glue so the marshmallows have something to stick on.
Note: I found this was the best option, using white craft glue (like Elmer’s) rather than a glue stick.
Whatever option you choose, stick them on the piece of paper and voila! watch your kid’s creation take shape!
Step 3 - All in the Details (optional)
Add some final flourishes to the picture, fill in some of the smaller details with a crayon/marker like eyes on a face, buttons on a gingerbread, whiskers on a cat, etc. Or even go crazy with googly eyes, pom poms, ribbons, etc.
This is a simple craft with minimal mess but big on fun. Enjoy!
Becky is mommy to two princesses, age 5 and 3, and writes about parenting in the Boston area on her blog theBOSmom.
