Cut an apple in half vertically for stamping. Choose paint colors and place on paper plates for your child. Help your child dip the apple in the paint and press onto a large sheet of white paper. After the first one, he will get the idea. For added enjoyment, a tree trunk is easy to paint on the paper. Rubber stamps come in leaf shapes and are easy to dip in paint. You can also allow your child to create these with a large paintbrush.
At this age, young children have a natural fascination with bugs. Rock bugs are simple and amusing crafts to make. Find or buy some small flat rocks. Wash and dry the rocks. Pipe cleaners, glue, acrylic or tempera paint, black paint pens, large easy-to-hold paintbrushes, newspaper or craft paper and wiggly eyes are supplies needed to make your bug rocks. Put the paper down and have your child paint some rocks. Making spots on her bug is easy using a black paint pen. Once dry she can glue on wiggly eyes and pipe cleaners for antennas.
Toilet paper tubes are good to use for making crafts. These can make a Santa for Christmas, butterflies for spring or summer, and animal shapes. Sheep are adorable and a simple craft to create. Purchase a long black pipe cleaner, toilet paper tube, large black pom-pom, glue, wiggly eyes, white cardstock paper and cotton balls. An adult needs to cut the pipe cleaner in half and help the child make long U shapes. Place into the tube, each one facing out and glue to make arms and legs. Have her glue cotton balls all over the tube, completely covering. Glue the pom-pom on the top for the head. Then have him glue the eyes on the head. Help him cut the cardstock into ear shapes and let him glue them on.
Paper plates are inexpensive and simple to use for crafts. Make your turtle with a paper plate, some rocks, brown paint, green construction paper for body parts, small rocks and colored magazine paper or construction paper. Have your child paint the paper plate front and allow to dry completely before painting the back. Paint the back and set aside to dry. While drying, cut colored paper or magazine paper into squares. Draw a head, tail, arms and legs on construction paper for your child. Have her cut them out with safety scissors. Glue on the back edge of the plate. Start gluing your rocks or paper on the plate.