Looking for a way to keep your little one entertained and sneak in some learning without breaking the bank? Say hello to DIY toddler activities! This adorable budget friendly, DIY toddler activity is the perfect solution! It’s simple to make, uses recycled materials (all of which you probably have lying around the house), and is sure to bring a smile to your toddler’s face.
Toddlers and preschoolers are at a stage where they love exploring and engaging in hands-on activities, but buying new toys all the time just isn’t cost effective. What better way to keep them entertained and promote learning than with a DIY toddler activity you can make with items you already have! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through creating a monster and cookies from a cardboard box, and how this activity benefits your toddler’s development. (Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for items purchased at no additional cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.)
What You’ll Need for this DIY Toddler Activity:
- Cardboard box (shoebox size works well)
- White cardstock or construction paper
- Blue paint stick, paint, or marker
- Black permanent marker
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Double sided tape or glue stick
- Clear scotch Tape or packing tape
- Clear ziplock sandwich bag
- A circle like the top of a candle for tracing (Optional)
Creating your DIY Toddler Activity: The Cookie Counting Monster!
- Prepare your cardboard box. Cut off the short flaps so you’re just left with a box that is closed on one side and open on the other. DO NOT THROW THE FLAPS AWAY. You will be repurposing them for the cookies.
**See video below for visual directions!
- Using your pencil, Draw the friendly blue cookie eating monster we all know and love on a piece of white cardstock. You can substitute with white or blue construction paper; it just won’t be as strong.
- ** side note: if your cardboard box is plain and free of labels and logos, feel free to draw directly on the box if you prefer.
- Draw the Monster’s mouth nice and big and color it in with a black marker or paint stick.
- Using the lid of a candle (Tupperware or any circle works. You can also freehand it) trace a circle on your monster for his tummy.
- Color in your monster outline blue. I used a blue paint stick because they’re so easy to use and dry super fast! No need to color in the circle tummy because you will be cutting it out.
- ** side note: You can skip this step by drawing your outline on blue cardstock.
- Once your Cookie eating monster is dry, use scissors to carefully cut out the circle tummy.
- Use the double sided tape to attach your drawing to the flat, closed side of your cardboard box.
- Carefully cut through your cardboard box where the open circle is. You should be able to see into your box now.
- Using your scissors cut a slit in your monster’s mouth. This is how you will feed him cookies.
- Turn your box over to create the belly that catches the cookies. Simply fold over the top of the bag and tape it to the top of the circle belly. **See video below.
Creating the Cookies for your DIY toddler activity:
- Using the cardboard pieces you cut off earlier, draw 10 circles on them with your pencil.
- Use the black marker to write the numbers 1 through 10 on one side of the circle. For example, on the first circle write the word one and the number 1 underneath it. The second circle, write two with the number 2 underneath it and so on.
- On the other side of the circle, use the black marker to draw the corresponding number of chocolate chips.
- Optional: laminte your cookies or cover in packing tape to increase durability. If you need a laminator, this is a great one!
Time to Play!
Now that your DIY toddler activity is created, and your Cookie loving Monster and his cookies are ready, it’s time for the fun part!
Let’s Pretend:
Encourage your child to “feed” the cookies to the Monster. This activity helps them practice fine motor skills and develop hand-eye coordination as they aim to place the cookies into Cookie Monster’s mouth.
Counting Cookies:
Count the cookies together with your toddler as they feed the Monster the cookies. Count the number of chocolate chips on the cookies with your toddler.
Learning Curve: For older toddlers or preschoolers you can introduce simple addition and subtraction. “We gave Monster 3 cookies. How many are left?”
Enhance your DIY toddler activity with these fun twists!
Different Shaped Cookies : Cut out cookies in different shapes like squares, triangles, and hearts. Talk about the shapes with your child as they play.
- “What shape is this cookie?”
- “This Cookie is a triangle. How many sides does a triangle have?”
Rainbow Cookies: Use a variety of colored construction paper or cardstock for the cookies. This is a great way to introduce color recognition.
- “What color is that cookie?”
- “Can you feed Monster the blue cookies?”
This Cookie counting Monster DIY toddler activity is a fun way to spend quality time with your toddler while fostering early learning skills. It’s a win-win for crafting fun and educational playtime!
DIY toddler activity Learning Objectives:
- Fine Motor Skills: Handling and manipulating the cookies to feed Cookie Monster helps toddlers refine their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
- Imagination: Feeding Monster cookies allows toddlers to express their creativity and imagination while engaging in pretend play.
- Cognitive Development: As toddlers interact with their Cookie loving Monster and the cookies, they learn cause and effect as they observe feeding Cookie Monster a cookie, and seeing it disappear into his mouth and reappear In his belly.
Engaging toddlers in DIY activities like feeding cookies to this cookie loving monster not only provides entertainment but also promotes various aspects of child development. Teachers can also create this diy toddler activity for their classrooms. As a former Pre-K teacher, I made an endless amount of things from cardboard boxes! There are countless benefits to be gained from this simple but fun DIY toddler activity. So gather your materials and get ready for some cookie-filled fun with your little one!
Happy Mommying!
