Handprints

• Surprise your toddler with an activity that actually requires messy hands. Spread a generous layer of nontoxic acrylic paint onto his palms and fingers and demonstrate how to create a clean handprint without smudging. Let him practice on several sheets of white paper. Surrender the brush to him and allow him to paint one of your own hands. Once he's gotten the hang of it, create the final product. Place your handprints side-by-side on a sentimental piece of memorabilia, such as a plate, an artist's canvas or a plaque.
  
  

Our Favorite Things Book

• Create an autobiographical picture book using white construction paper folded "hamburger-style." On the front flap, write "Our Favorite Things." Allow your child to decorate the cover using crayons, stickers, glitter or other craft items. Assign a topic, such as animals, food or colors, to each set of pages. Ask her for topic suggestions. On the left page write the name and draw a picture of your favorite animal. On the right page, write the name of her favorite animal and let her draw its picture.
  
  

Puppets

• Create hand puppets using brown paper bags. Prepare for the activity by cutting eyes, noses and mouths out of colorful construction paper. Together, you and your child can decorate the bags to resemble yourselves or abstract characters. Glue on the cut-out body parts and color the bags with markers or paint. Encourage your tot to decorate her bag based on her own interests. If she loves princesses, for instance, cut a crown from construction paper that she can glue to the bag.
  
  

Musical Coloring

• Coloring is a toddler favorite, though the activity alone can quickly become humdrum. Keep it interesting by turning it into a game with music. Sit at a table with your child and place a radio or CD player next to you. Turn on an upbeat song. Begin coloring on separate sheets of paper. After a few moments, turn off the music. At this time, the two of you must switch papers. Resume coloring when you turn the music back on. Add a twist by making it a rule that you must use a different color each time you switch papers. Continue until no new color options remain.