Create memorable handprint crafts that will last for many years.
Most preschoolers enjoy making crafts and using their imagination. When planning crafts for a group of preschoolers, you can make a variety of handprint crafts for the young children to give to their grandparents, teachers and parents. Later, these crafts will help the recipients remember how small the preschoolers were when the crafts were made. The crafts will also help the children with their fine motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination.
Holiday Crafts
For a simple holiday craft, the Enchanted Learning website recommends having the preschoolers trace and cut their handprints out of red construction paper. Cut a pink heart out of construction paper and write "Be Mine" or "Happy Valentine's Day" in marker. Have the children tape or glue the heart to the hand. They can also make a handprint Christmas tree by tracing and cutting out several handprints from green construction paper. Tell the preschoolers to glue the handprints palm side facing up in a triangle to resemble a Christmas tree. The fingers are the Christmas tree leaves. They can add a star and ornaments to the tree using construction paper or craft foam stickers.
Paint Crafts
Preschoolers can get their hands dirty with paint handprint crafts. Give each preschooler a sheet of paper and help her paint her hand green to make a flower craft. Tell her to press her hand on the paper (fingers facing the top of the paper). Have her dip one finger in the green paint to draw the leaves. The fingers of the handprint represent the flower stems. Let her put her thumbs in a different color of paint and make a ring around the tops of the finger flower stems to make the flower heads. The Artists Helping Children website recommends using the handprint as the flower, using one finger painted green to make the stems and leaves. Another memorable paint craft is a keepsake handprint. Have each child press her hand on a piece of white paper. Make a frame around the handprint using strips of colored construction paper. Be sure to write the date on the picture. After the paint dries, laminate each picture.
Animal Crafts
Make a lamb by cutting a handprint out of brown or black construction paper. Tape the hand upside down on a sheet of white or green construction paper. Tell the preschoolers to attach cotton balls with glue to create the wool on the lamb. The only things that should be showing are the ends of the thumb and fingers. Use a marker to draw an eye and mouth on the thumb for the lamb's face. The children can make a bird craft by tracing one of their hands on a sheet of construction paper at a slight angle. The thumb is the bird's head and the fingers are his feathers. Give the preschoolers markers to color their handprint birds.
Salt Dough Crafts
The Preschool Rock website gives a recipe for salt dough for use in handprint crafts. Mix 1 1/2 cups salt with 4 cups flour. Add 1 1/2 cup water slowly until dough forms. The preschoolers can help you knead the dough until it becomes smooth. Give each child a small ball of dough and have her flatten it with a rolling pen. Tell each child to press her hand in the dough. She can also use her finger to write her name in the dough. Place the salt dough handprints on a baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees or until the dough hardens. After the prints cool down, the preschoolers can decorate them with acrylic paint. For another variation, use Plaster of Paris instead of salt dough.
