Most toddlers are fascinated with stickers, and my Sawyer is no exception. Every time I see a pack on sale, I grab it for our overflowing sticker collection. Stickers provide an easy go-to activity for every busy mom; just give your little one a piece of paper and sheet of stickers and get their lunch prepared or the floor mopped without fuss. But there are so many more things you can do with stickers to make them even more fun and creative. Here are six ideas to take sticker-fun above and beyond that plain old piece of paper!
1. Create Lines & Patterns
Help your little one build fine motor skills and even early math skills by encouraging them to place their stickers in lines and patterns. Start by drawing or having them draw one long line on the paper and show them how to place their stickers in a row covering the snaking line. Show them how to create a pattern along the line (i.e. one Elmo, then one Big Bird, then one Elmo sticker, and so on). But be careful not to hinder their creative fun by forcing them to stay on the line or with the pattern if they really aren’t into it.
5. Start with a Background
Instead of just handing your little one a blank piece of paper every time (not that it’s a bad idea once in awhile), give her a background to start with. Use a sheet from a coloring book or a page from a magazine. Have her draw something first. Or if you’re really feeling ambitious, draw the background yourself. My son’s favorite is when I draw him a winding road or choo choo tracks for his car, truck or train stickers. But try playing up the silly factor by pairing backgrounds with unlikely stickers, like sea life stickers on an outserspace scene.
3. Create a Reward Chart
Stickers are a great reward for good behavior. Let your little one see her accomplishments add up by adding her stickers to a reward chart. You can start with just a blank sheet of paper, a self-drawn design (of course, our design of choice is always the road and train tracks), or even design and print off a free chart from ChoreCharts.com.
4. Decorate Cards & Gifts
Let your little ones in on the gift-giving by having them decorate cards and gift-wrapping with stickers. Use inexpensive blank notecards, plain gift bags, or even recycle paper grocery bags for wrapping paper. Match the stickers to the interests of the gift recipient for a personal touch.
5. Decorate 3-D Objects
You don’t always have to think flat when it comes to stickers. With just a few fun stickers, recycled wipes boxes become magical treasure chests and empty plastic water bottles become dazzling vases. The sky’s the limit!
6. Make Your Own
Give your little one some markers or crayons and a sheet of plain white labels to easily create their own stickers. Or cut their already made creations into smaller shapes and run them through a sticker maker. Just don’t waste time and money on those poor quality kids sticker making kits. Invest in a Xyron Sticker Machine(which can be found with the scrapbooking supplies and actually costs about the same amount anyway) so you can use it for your arts and crafts, too!