Preschoolers love exploring textures. The way things feel is just as interesting—perhaps even moreso—as what it looks like. In celebration of all things touchy-feely, we’ve collected 25 of the coolest texture crafts for preschoolers. From fuzzy pom-poms to textured finger paints, there’s something for every tactile learner out there.
Exploring Texture with Preschoolers
Get ready to get your hands dirty (in a good way) and explore the world of textures with your little one. Let’s get started!
1. Pom-Pom Rainbow Craft
This fluffy rainbow craft is perfect for curious little ones who love to touch soft objects. They can learn about color sorting and get some fine motor exercise in by using tweezers or their pincer grip to grab the pom-poms. (via Artsy Craftsy Mom)
2. Sensory Wall Mosaic Art
Small foam blocks are great for small hands and can be used to write names, create designs, or build with. This activity involves adding foam blocks to sticky contact paper to create mosaic wall art. They are lightweight and adhere well to contact paper. (via Mama Smiles)
3. Textured Hot Air Balloon Craft
This colorful craft from Artsy Momma is a multisensory project that involves sight, smell, touch, and sound. Materials used include feathers, colored rice, stickers, glitter, and more.
4. Textured Finger Paint
Turn painting into a texture extravaganza by adding things like spices and cereal to the mix. Cereals such as Fruity Pebbles or rice cereal (tiny pieces) are preferred. As for spices, see if you can pair the spice up with the color. You can use cinnamon for red, parsley for green, and so on. (via Parenting Chaos)
5. Texture Craft Sticks
Kids can explore these textured craft sticks again and again. Use craft foam, felt, glitter, cardboard, etc. glued to either side of the stick to make these textured toys. (via Growing Hands On Kids)
6. Textured Color Wheel
Here’s another fun activity involving textured paint. Use materials like flour, shaving cream, salt, soap, and couscous to create paints with a different feel and texture. And then, of course, let your child explore it with their fingers. (via Teaching Ideas)
7. Sensory Art with Cotton Balls
Speaking of contact paper, here’s another project using this material along with dyed cotton balls. As the child moves the cotton ball along the surface of the contact paper, bits and pieces cling to it, pulling and stretching the cotton into pieces. (via Mess for Less)
8. DIY Sensory Board Book
Turn any ordinary book into a sensory book for your child by adding your own materials. Corrugated cardboard, textured paper, a piece of silk, or a crumpled piece of foil… any of these make great additions to your kids’ board books. (via Mommy Evolution)
9. Whale Collage
This wild and wonderful whale collage is made with lots of different textures and materials. We see cardboard, yarn, felt, and tulle along with sparkly glitter and sequins. What a fun project! (via Blue Bear Wood)
10. Popcorn Kernel Leaf Craft
Explore bumpy and crunchy popcorn kernels with this bright and colorful leaf mosaic. First, you’ll dye the popcorn kernels (optional) and then glue them to a leaf template to create a gorgeous textured fall leaf. It doesn’t hurt to make some popcorn to snack on while you make this craft, either. (via Glue Sticks & Gumdrops)
11. Texture Turtles
Paint some cute green turtles and use different textures to create their shells. Cloth, cardboard, paper, felt, and foil are all excellent choices. (via Princesses, Pies, and Preschool Pizzazz)
12. Printmaking with Various Materials
You don’t have to make anything specific to have fun with textures. Take a look at this activity from Projects with Kids using various household materials to create prints on paper. It’s an excellent way for kids to explore the different textures of cardboard, wood, a toothbrush, foil, and other items.
13. Sensory Blocks
Use this post as inspiration for creating loads of fun sensory blocks for your toddler or preschooler. Some materials used include faux fur, fake grass, corrugated cardboard, felt, pipe cleaners, and glitter paper. (via Red Ted Art)
14. Cardboard Apple Trees
These cardboard apple trees will make beautiful art for the kitchen or the kids’ rooms. It has a sort of farmhouse look to it. Plus, it’s a really cool way to explore the texture of cardboard while painting. (via Housing a Forest)
15. Cinnamon Apple Craft
This is a sensory craft in two ways: the cinnamon adds grit to the paint, and the smell is incredible. The cinnamon scent gets stronger as the paint dries, so your house will smell nice and cozy after making this with your preschooler. (via From ABCs to ACTs)
16. Tissue Paper Leaves
Crumple and crinkle tissue paper into balls to make beautiful fall leaf art. Crumpling the paper helps kids improve hand strength and grasping skills. (via Kids Activities)
17. Fall Trees 3 Ways
Reading Confetti’s fall trees are fantastic texture-based crafts. The trunk and branches remain the same in all the trees and are made with pipe cleaners. The leaves vary from beads to pom-poms to foam stickers. Each has a unique feel for kids to explore.
18. Popcorn Fall Trees
Another cute project for fall, these popcorn trees look good enough to eat! So make sure you set aside some popcorn for snacking on after you’re done with the project. Contrast that fluffy popcorn with the rough bark on the sticks while you’re exploring the textures in this fun craft. (via Happy Hooligans)
19. Crayon Rubbings
Did you make crayon rubbings as a kid? It’s a classic childhood activity, and the purpose is to explore the textures of the object you’re coloring over. Wicker, concrete, and wood are just a few of the possibilities for wax rubbings. (via Kids Activities)
20. Textured Owl Craft
Who wouldn’t love this delightful cardboard owl? The cardboard ridges are nice and bumpy when you run your fingers over them. Add tissue paper or soft feathers to the owl’s belly. (via How Wee Learn)
21. Yarn Easter Egg Suncatchers
Cut pieces of yarn and add them to sticky paper to make super colorful egg suncatchers. They’re a great way to use all the scrap yarn you’ve been saving. (via Kids’ Craft Room)
22. 5 Senses Texture Collage
Add lots of loose parts to the table, give your kids some cardstock, and let them get to work creating a texture collage. Some loose parts to consider are pom-poms, feathers, buttons, stickers, yarn, craft foam, elastic, and small rocks. (via Modern Homestead Mama)
23. Painting on Textures
Instead of adding various materials to your art, create art on a variety of different materials! Paint on a variety of textures such as faux fur, cardboard, doilies, and coffee filters to see how different it feels. (via Fantastic Fun and Learning)
24. Salt Art
Painting on salt can create some beautiful art! Plus, it’s really easy to do. Kids can sketch out their own designs or use coloring sheets to begin. Trace the shape in glue, add a thick layer of salt, let it dry, and shake out the excess. Paint over the salty glue for crystal-like art. (via Kids Activities)
25. Texture Person Collage
Make a person out of materials with different textures! Yarn, cardboard, buttons, paper, bubble wrap, and tape are all fine choices to make a delightful little character collage. (via Childhood 101)
Enjoy these crafts to stimulate the senses and improve fine motor skills. They’re lots of fun. Don’t forget to pin them so you can come back to them later!
