articles

Marshmallow Arts and Crafts for Kids

By Becky, theBOSmom April 9, 2020

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.