Easy Toddler Crafts

Fun crafts that are easy enough for your toddler to do with you.
Make fun crafts for your child to play with or fun gifts for someone.

Earth Day Windmill Craft

Supplies Needed

Finished Craft

Supplies Needed: Toilet Paper Roll - Twisty-Tie - Two Popsicle Sticks

In honor of Earth Day 2011 this toilet paper roll windmill was designed. It does not require you to purchase anything and all of the materials used are things that people usually throw away. This craft is very easy to do and you can take the opportunity of doing it to teach your child about reusing materials and wind power. It is also a great craft to do if you are making the log cabin.

Step 1: Carefully poke a hole about ¾ of the way of toilet paper role. This can be accomplished by using the tip of the twisty-tie and firmly pressing it against the toilet paper roll. It will help to hold the toilet paper roll and slightly press down on it. Make sure that your fingers are not anywhere near the hole when you poke the twisty-tie through. If you are having difficulty easily poking the hole through with the twisty-tie a thumb tack or needle could be useful in making a hole for the windmill. Just be careful using such sharp items.

Step 2: In this step your toddler or young child will be able to help. Make the twisty-tie as straight as you can and lay it down. Lay one of the Popsicle sticks in the middle of the twisty-tie. Wrap the twisty-tie once or twice so that it is in the middle of the Popsicle stick. Then lay the second Popsicle stick down so that the two Popsicle sticks make a plus sign and wrap the twisty-tie around the second Popsicle stick once or twice. Then make the left over part of the twisty-tie straight.

Step 3: Help your toddler carefully feed the ends of the twisty-tie through the hole that you previously poked through the toilet paper roll. Once you have fed the twisty-tie ends through the hole make sure that you press the Popsicle sticks flush with the toilet paper roll and spread the two ends of the twisty-tie. By spreading the two ends you keep the blades of the windmill from falling outl. With this method you can complete a windmill without the use of tape, glue, or scissors and all supplies are something people normally throw out. Feel free to have your toddler decorate the windmill by coloring it and/or resting a corner of a envelope on top of it for a roof.