Mother's Day Crafts for Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

Every year, my husband and daughter surprise me with a handmade gift for Mother’s Day, and it always delights me. There’s something special about knowing your favorite people actually made something for you, instead of just clicking the “order” button (although doing both is even better!).

Want to guide your kids through making a Mother’s Day craft? Whether’s it’s for Mom, Grandma or another special caregiver in their life, we’ve rounded up the most creative ideas based on different ages and stages. Keep scrolling for Mother’s Day crafts for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Mother’s Day Crafts for Toddlers

With the smallest artists, crafts are often a joint effort. We found Mother’s Day crafts for toddlers that are simple and fun—with lots of fingerprints and handprints involved!

Fingerprint flowerpot

Little creatives will love the sensory experience of this project by Nicole of Mom Always Finds Out. And Mom will love the thoughtfulness and personal touch. Like with all project ideas, feel free to improvise and embellish!

Materials

• Terra cotta pot
• Acrylic paints in bright colors
• Black paint marker
• Optional: clear sealant

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Use a black paint marker to draw several butterfly bodies onto a flowerpot.
• Help your toddler press their thumb into the paint and then on the pot four times in the shape of butterfly wings (re-dipping in paint as needed).
• Repeat with all of the different butterfly bodies on the pot.
• Optional: Write the year and child’s name to add a personal touch. You could also plant a favorite type of flower in the pot to make it complete.
• Apply a clear sealant if you’d like.

Fork-painted flower card

This craft by Kimberly McLeod, creator of The Best Ideas for Kids and mom of two, is a sweet project that toddlers will have a blast making. “I love fork painting because it’s easy. It’s a fun twist on using a traditional paintbrush, and as a bonus, forks look just like tulips!” says McLeod.

Materials

• Acrylic (or washable) paint
• Scissors
• Colorful paper
• Sturdy white paper
• Glue stick
• Forks

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Fold a piece of sturdy white paper in half to create a card.
• Help your toddler dip a fork into the paint and press it onto the front of the card three times, ensuring the whole tip of the fork makes contact with the paper.
• Draw or paint a flower stem and leaves extending downward from the “flowers.”
• Cut out a vase shape from colorful paper and glue it onto the bottom of the white card.
• Write a personalized message.

Handprint butterfly art

This project by Laura Gummerman of Childhood Magic offers another fun sensory experience for toddlers. Handprint art is a great way of freezing a moment in time—and it’s just so cute.

Materials

• Acrylic (or washable) paint
• Sturdy white paper
• Colorful paper
• Marker
• Glue stick

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Paint both of your child’s hands the same color.
• Help them place their painted hands on the paper to make the top set of matching butterfly wings (forewings), as shown in the photo.
• Have them wash their hands and repeat with a different paint color for the bottom set of matching wings (hindwings).
• Add the butterfly body with cut paper.
• Write a personalized message at the bottom.

Fingerprint painted rocks

Young artists tend to love all things rock painting, so this craft by Angela, creator of Projects with Kids and mom of two, will surely be a hit with toddlers (and moms!). “This colorful painted rock craft uses fingerprint art to help kids create a simple and thoughtful Mother’s Day keepsake that’s also fun to make,” says Angela.

Materials

• Smooth rocks
• Acrylic paint
• Paint markers
• Sealant (optional)

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Help your toddler press their thumb into the paint and then onto a rock in the shape of a flower, heart or butterfly.
• Use paint markers to write a Mother’s Day message.
• Optional: Seal rock with Mod Podge or other sealant.

Mother’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers

Preschoolers are full of creative energy, and they’ll love using it on making something extra-special for you. (Plus, they can handle slightly more involved projects!) Check out some adorable (and even useful) preschool Mother’s Day craft ideas below.

Handprint bouquet

This paper handprint bouquet by Claire Shaffer, creator of Childhood Magic and mom of two, is lovely—and more practical than real flowers. “This bouquet of flowers is extra special because it won’t wilt! Adding some cut-out flowers to the handprint art is the perfect way for kids to get creative and personalize this craft,” says Shaffer.

Materials

• Washable paint
• Colorful paper
• Large, brown paper
• String
• Green pipecleaners
• Clear tape

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Select papers that match the paint colors in the tray.
• Paint your child’s hand, and have them place their hand on the coordinating paper color.
• Once dry, loosely cut out the child’s handprint.
• Tape handprints to stems.
• Wrap a large piece of brown paper around the paper flower bouquet. Tie a string around it to secure it.
• Optional: Create and add non-hand-shaped paper flowers to the bouquet for filler.

Decorated picture frame

What better way to celebrate Mom than by bedazzling a picture frame to showcase one of her most cherished family photos? This craft by Kayla Hollomon of Keep Toddlers Busy is a simple project that’s sure to melt Mom’s heart.

Materials

• Wooden picture frame
• Pom poms and other small art odds and ends (like sequins and buttons)
• Liquid glue
• Sharpie or paint marker

Instructions

• Set up a station with glue and small art materials.
• Encourage your preschooler to glue items onto the frame however they’d like.
• Once dry, write a Mother’s Day message on the back.

Handprint flower tote bag

This handprint craft by Samantha King of Nifty Mom will be an awesome sensory experience for your preschooler. Every mom loves a good cloth tote bag, and she’ll love it even more with her kids’ adorable art on it!

Materials

• Plain cloth tote bag
• Fabric paint
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Paint a circle that will be the center of the flower.
• Paint your child’s hand and have them place their handprint on the edge of the flower’s center to create the first “petal.”
• Repaint their hand and repeat until all handprint petals are on the flower.
• Paint a stem and leaves if desired.

Pressed-flower bookmark

Bookworm moms will love this DIY pressed-flower bookmark by Annie, co-creator of Fox Farm Home and mom of three. “This is a great nature craft for kids, and the finished bookmark makes a thoughtful homemade gift for Mother’s Day, for teacher or for any book lover,” says Annie.

Materials

• Pressed flowers (either DIY or purchased)
• Clear contact paper
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Ribbon

Instructions

• Cut a piece of contact paper into a bookmark shape—roughly 2 by 5 inches.
• Remove the backing from the contact paper and place it sticky side up.
• Let your child place dried flowers wherever they’d like. (If some flowers go over the edge, you can trim them off later).
• When your little one’s done, place a second piece of contact paper that’s slightly larger than the first sticky side down to enclose the bookmark.
• Trim off extra contact paper.
• Punch a hole in the center of the top of the bookmark.
• Tie a ribbon to complete it.

Mother’s Day Crafts for Kindergarteners

Kindergarteners (aka “big kids”) will delight in the opportunity to make a love-filled craft for Mom. Here are some relatively easy and extremely “keep-able” Mother’s Day crafts for kindergarteners (and beyond)—complete with personal touches and more handprints, of course!

Family portrait art

This family portrait project by Meri Cherry & Play Make Create Art Studio in Encino, California, will help your kindergartener create a gift that’ll make Mom swoon.

Materials

• Sturdy white paper (ideally watercolor paper)
• Black oil pastels or crayons
• Watercolor paint
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

• Encourage your child to draw a picture of your family with black crayon or oil pastel on sturdy, white paper.
• When they’re done, have them paint with watercolors to add color.
• Write their name and the year on the back.
• Optional: Place in a frame to present to a loved one.

Personalized tea towels

This personalized idea by Agnes Hsu, creator of Hello, Wonderful and mom of three in Southern California, is sweet and practical. “It guides children in creating a personalized Mother’s Day gift by using fabric markers to draw original artwork and write special messages on a plain white tea towel,” explains Hsu.

Materials

• Plain white tea towels
• Fabric markers
• Optional: fabric paint

Instructions

• Encourage your child to draw Mother’s Day designs on a tea towel with fabric markers.
• Wrap and present the tea towels to Mom—or whoever is receiving it.

Painted paper flower bouquet

Painted paper art is striking and fun to make. This project by Karimah Henry, creator of Crafting a Fun Life and mom, will make for a great Mother’s Day centerpiece. “I love that kids can use any technique to paint in order to make a bouquet that features the favorite flowers of all the special women in their lives, whether it’s Mom, aunt or grandma,” says Henry.

Materials

• Sturdy white paper (ideally watercolor paper)
• Washable paint in warm colors
• Paintbrushes
• Thin, wooden dowel rods
• Hot glue gun
• Yarn or string

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Have your child paint freely onto sturdy white paper—the more expressive, the better!
• Once the painted papers are dry, cut out flower shapes.
• Hot glue the flowers to the dowel rods.
• Use yarn to tie the bouquet together.
• Place it in a vase.

Crayon-resist watercolor card

This craft by Angela of Projects with Kids will teach your kindergartener a fun new trick—the surprise reveal aspect of the crayon-resist technique. “With bright colors and easy watercolor techniques, this bookmark and card project makes a beautiful, handmade Mother’s Day keepsake that kids of all ages can personalize,” she says.

Materials

• Sturdy white paper (ideally watercolor paper)
• Watercolor paints
• Paintbrushes
• White crayon

Instructions

• Fold a piece of sturdy white paper in half to make a card.
• Help your child write Mother’s Day messages or draw simple shapes with a white crayon.
• Have them paint with watercolors over the crayon.
• Repeat the process to make bookmarks if desired.

Handprint bouquet with footprint vase

This paper “bouquet” by Katie Pinch of A Little Pinch of Perfect is sure to get a little messy—but that’s part of the fun.

Materials

• Washable paint
• Colorful paper
• Sturdy white paper
• Straws, wooden dowels or pipe cleaners (for stems)
• Gluestick
• Hot glue gun
• Clear tape

Instructions

• Squirt various paints onto a tray.
• Paint your child’s hands, and have them place them on the sturdy white paper.
• Repeat with their feet.
• Once dry, loosely cut out the handprints and footprints.
• Hot glue handprints to straw “stems,” and glue on leaves cut out of green paper.
• Hot glue or tape the bouquet onto a sheet of colorful paper.
• Hot glue a cut-out footprint on top of the stems to create a “vase.”

Mother’s Day crafts for kids are all about the love that goes into them. “Making Mother’s Day crafts is about teaching my son that the most meaningful way to celebrate his mom is through the investment of time and personal effort,” says Cenap C., a dad of one in Istanbul.

So as you try these ideas, remember that you’re not just making a mess—you’re creating meaningful keepsakes and special moments. Happy crafting!

How We Developed This Article

To create this article, we scoured the internet for fun, low-lift and age-appropriate Mother’s Day crafts for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. We then reached out to bloggers for permission to include their craft, share a photo and link back to their sites. We interviewed six of the bloggers to learn more details about their crafts. We also talked to one dad in our community about what it means to make and share Mother’s Day crafts as gifts. Learn more about how we develop articles here.

About the author: Kristen Bringe is a freelance writer and mom who loves all things crafting and creativity. She also loves getting handmade gifts for Mother’s Day from her husband and daughter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of Georgia.