Painting -- with non-toxic, non-staining paints, of course -- is one of the most enjoyable activities for a toddler. Mix up some powdered paint or poster paint in a single color -- a toddler will not appreciate multiple colors quite yet -- pour it into a no-spill pot and outfit toddlers with smocks and several painting implements such as chunky paintbrushes, empty and clean deodorant rollers and straws. Drop a blob of paint on a piece of butcher paper and allow toddlers to blow air at it through a straw to make interesting shapes. Do not underestimate the pleasure toddlers get out of painting with their own hands, however. Keep painting projects outside to reduce mess.
In addition to traditional painting, poster and powdered paints can be used to create prints and stamps with different household objects and things from the natural world. Cut potatoes and other tough vegetables and fruits, such as apples, mushrooms and turnips, into interesting shapes, and show toddlers how to dip them into paint and stamp them on butcher paper, paper bags, newspapers and other surfaces to make patterns. Lead toddlers on a "nature walk" through a park and allow them to collect leaves, seed pods and other objects. Afterward, have them dip the objects into paint and splatter patterns onto different types of paper.
Small children love glue almost as much as they love paint. Provide them with lots of objects such as leaves, flowers, magazine cutouts and colorful tissue paper, in addition to surfaces such as paper plates, pieces of cardboard and poster board, lids from plastic containers and paper cups. Mix a solution of water and non-toxic glue, and show toddlers how to dip their paper and leaves into the glue and press them onto the surfaces. Objects glued onto small things, such as plastic container lids, may also make good Christmas ornaments when punched through and attached to a hook or loop of wire.
Toddlers are very tactile people. Give them clumps of Play-Doh or non-toxic modeling clay and let them go wild making monsters, fake food and whatever else their imaginations can come up with. If you are using Sculpey or something similar, take their sculptures home, bake them and then display them around the classroom.