Finger-painting. Sand boxes. Ooey gooey slime solutions. Kids love making crafts, but those projects quickly become messy. What makes for a craft that won't make a mess? The key is to choose projects that don't use inherently messy materials like paint or glitter. Crayons, colored pencils, and markers add color to projects without the same risk of splatters and stains. Buttons, ribbons, stick-ons, and cut-outs made from felt or paper are other mess-free ways to add visual interest to craft projects. Parents can help with adding tape to the backs of the cut-outs, but kids can choose where to place them. This gives kids their creative freedom. Kids can layer different cut-outs to create all kinds of crafts and decorations, too.
If your kids still want to have some sparkle, you can use shimmery decorative papers—especially metallic options—or sparkly accessories. Both options add lots of color and shine without any of the mess. If you're still worried about major cleaning, one of the best ways to eliminate craft-related mess is to protect the area where your child is working with butcher paper. This way, if your little one draws a little outside the lines (so to speak), they have an approved place to make their marks. You can just pick up the paper and recycle it once the kids are done with the activity. These solutions often involve less materials and less time to make.
From drawing to doll making, try one of these crafts that promise all of the fun while minimizing mess (and consequently, stress for you).
