It’s easier than you think to get toddlers involved in celebrating Mother’s Day. There are so many simple craft projects they can do to create a gift for Mom, but they will need some help from you.

1. Handprint Flowers

What you will need:
-Construction paper
-Pencil
-Scissors
-Popsicle sticks
-Glue or tape
-Crayons (optional)

Toddlers love handprint arts and crafts. It’s exciting for them to learn how their hand shape relates to other objects, such as flowers. Start this project by having each child place a hand on a piece of construction paper. Trace their hand and cut it out for them. Then help them glue or tape that hand cut out onto a popsicle stick to create a hand-shaped flower. You can even have the kids get extra creative by coloring their handprint flowers with crayons and help them add their name to their creation.

2. Handprint Keepsake Napkin

What you will need:
-Cloth napkin
-Fabric paint
-Iron (as needed according to fabric paint instructions)

This projects makes a keepsake-worthy gift for mom. Start with fabric paint and brush it onto the child’s hand. Help them to place their hand firmly on the cloth napkin. Also help them to carefully remove their hand so as to not smudge the print, and of course assist them in cleaning the paint from their hand. With fabric paint add their name and the date under the handprint on the cloth. Let dry. Some fabric paints require heat setting, others do not, so be sure to thoroughly read the instructions on the paint. Simple enough, the handprint keepsake napkin is complete.

3. Decorated Journal

What you will need:
-Plain notebook
-Stickers, markers, glitter glue, etc.

If you can’t find a plain notebook, or would like a more simple canvas to start with than the typical, slick-surfaced cover, you can take a piece of plain paper and glue it to the cover of the notebook, and then trim the excess. You can do this with basic white printer paper, cardstock, or even colored paper. Now that you have a plain notebook for each child, provide them with simple artistic tools such as crayons, colored pencils, crayons, stickers, etc., and let them create a beautiful cover that expresses their love and appreciation for their mom.

4. Framed Art Mat and Photo

What you will need:
-Frame
-White photo matting for frame
-Crayons (or colored pencils or markers)
-Family photo

Framed kid art is adorable, but have you considered combining it with a family photo? Give the toddler in the family a white photo mat and allow them to create a masterpiece as they ordinarily would on regular paper. When they are finished, add a family photo into the cutout behind the mat and frame. This makes for a heartwarming and even tear-evoking Mother’s Day gift.

5. Bookmark

What you will need:
-Cardstock
-Scissors
-Hole punch
-Ribbon
-Crayons (or colored pencils or markers)
-Stickers (optional)

Prepare this project by cutting the cardstock into bookmark-sized strips. Punch a hole in the top and tie a ribbon through it. Then give each toddler one of these plain bookmarks and provide them with coloring tools and perhaps even stickers. You can help them by writing their name and the date on the bookmark and a nice message such as “Happy Mother’s Day” or “I love you, Mom!”