Fun Arctic Animal Crafts for Toddlers: Making Suncatchers

Looking for engaging Arctic Animal Crafts For Toddlers this winter? Creating beautiful suncatchers is a wonderful activity that combines simple materials with colorful results. These arctic animal suncatchers are easy for adults to prepare and safe for little hands to help decorate, making them perfect for a winter afternoon activity. When hung in a window, they catch the light and look absolutely stunning, adding a touch of icy magic to your home.

This craft uses simple free printable silhouettes of six different arctic and polar animals, allowing you to create a delightful range of winter decorations. The available animals include the Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Polar Bear, Penguin, Walrus, and Bowhead Whale. Each one makes a fantastic suncatcher!

(Please note: while often grouped with arctic animals in crafts, penguins are naturally found in the Southern Hemisphere.)

Engaging toddlers with creative activities is a fantastic way to foster their imagination, develop fine motor skills, and introduce them to different themes like arctic animals and the winter season. This suncatcher craft is particularly rewarding because it involves textures (tissue paper), colors, and a visually appealing final product.

Materials You Will Need

Gathering your supplies is the first step in creating these lovely suncatchers. You likely have many of these items at home already:

• Free Printable Arctic Animal Silhouettes (available for download, includes Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Polar Bear, Penguin, Walrus, and Bowhead Whale)
• Contact Paper / Sticky Back Plastic
• Dinner Plate or similar round object to trace
• Tissue Paper Circles (or tissue paper that toddlers can tear or cut into small pieces)
• Optional: Blue Sequins or Glitter
• Blue Ribbon
• Glue
• Scissors
• Sticky Tape

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Arctic Animal Suncatcher

Follow these simple steps to create your vibrant arctic animal suncatchers with your toddler. Adult supervision and assistance will be needed for cutting and handling the sticky paper.

1. Download and print the Free Printable Arctic Animal Silhouettes. Choose your favorite animal from the six available options.
2. Carefully cut out the chosen animal silhouette. An adult should perform this step as the shapes can be intricate.
   Finished arctic animal suncatchers displayed in a window, showing light shining through tissue paper circles.
3. Cut out two pieces of contact paper large enough to fit your dinner plate with some extra space around the edges. On the paper backing side of one sheet, trace around the dinner plate to create a large circle guide.
   Close-up of scissors cutting out a printable arctic fox silhouette template.
4. Peel the paper backing off the contact paper sheet that you drew the circle on. This will reveal the sticky side. Lay it sticky-side up on a flat surface. Cover the inside of the traced circle area completely with your colored tissue paper pieces. Toddlers can help with this part by placing or sticking the tissue paper squares or circles onto the contact paper. If desired, sprinkle sequins or glitter onto the sticky surface as well.
   A hand drawing a circle on a sheet of clear contact paper using a dinner plate as a guide.
5. Once the circle area is full of tissue paper, glue your cut-out arctic animal silhouette into the middle of the tissue paper covered area. Use a small amount of glue to secure it in place.
   Placing a cut-out polar bear silhouette onto the sticky side of contact paper covered in colorful tissue paper circles.
6. Take your second piece of contact paper and peel off its backing. Carefully lay this sticky side down over the top of your first sheet, sandwiching the tissue paper and the animal silhouette between the two sticky layers. Press down gently to seal everything in.
7. Using scissors, cut around the inside edge of the traced circle shape on your suncatcher to remove the excess contact paper and create a neat circular shape.
8. Attach a piece of blue ribbon to the back of your suncatcher using sticky tape. This creates a loop for hanging.
   Hand holding a completed arctic hare suncatcher made with tissue paper, ready to hang.

Tips for Crafting with Toddlers

When undertaking Arctic Animal Crafts For Toddlers, patience and preparation are key. Set up your workspace with all materials ready beforehand. Focus on letting your toddler participate in the safe steps, such as placing the tissue paper or choosing the animal silhouette. Don’t worry about perfection – the process and shared experience are what matter most! Be ready to assist with any steps involving cutting or sticky materials.

Conclusion

These arctic animal suncatchers offer a simple yet beautiful craft activity perfect for spending quality time with toddlers during the winter. They are easy to make, require minimal supplies, and the resulting colorful decorations will brighten any window. Enjoy creating these little pieces of arctic-inspired art with your child!