For years, research has shown that watching TV or other media has little to no benefit for babies—in fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that infants and toddlers under 18 months of age shouldn’t use screens at all, except for video-chatting (tell grandma and grandpa not to worry!).

Now, a new study published in the JAMA Pediatrics journal found that toddlers between 1 and 3 years old who use screens interact less with their parents. “For every additional minute of screen time, children heard fewer adult words, spoke fewer vocalizations, and engaged in fewer back-and-forth interactions,” the researchers conclude.

It’s nothing we haven’t heard before, sure. But if you’re racking your brain trying to figure out how to replace some of that screen time, these fun and easy springtime crafts just might do it.

Granted these craft ideas will require parental supervision, but they’re a fun way to bond with your toddler and help improve their motor skills. Best yet? You can do them with supplies you already have at home. Here are a few seasonally- and age-appropriate ideas (just click on the links for photo inspo and step-by-step instructions):

• …if you have paper plates, cut them into the shape of butterfly wings. Then have your kid glue on pom-poms, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners, and voila.

• …if you have a newspaper, make a collage puppy. A toddler-safe scissors can easily cut through paper, so it’s safe. The grown-up can cut a collar and nose out of black paper, and there you go. It’s never too early to teach your son or daughter about teamwork.

• …if you have an egg carton, make an egg carton caterpillar. Let your kiddo run wild (within reason) as they paint the egg carton strips in the color of their choice (may we suggest green to mimic the famous critter in the Eric Carle books?). A pipe cleaner antenna and googly eyes top off this little cutie.

• …if you have cupcake liners, turn them into cupcake liner flowers. Tape a few liners to a piece of construction paper, add popsicles as the stems, and have your kid go to down decorating the inside of the liners with crayons, sequins, pompoms, and—dare we go there—glitter. 

• ….if you have construction paper…make handprint kites. Dip your toddler’s hand into a vibrant (washable) paint color, press it onto paper, draw or glue a string at the bottom, and write “Happy spring!” on top. Bonus: this one doubles as a keepsake for the baby book.

Which spring craft are you trying first? Show us your final projects on our socials.

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