Friendship Crafts for Preschoolers

While it's fun to do crafts with your preschooler to celebrate the different holidays throughout the year, it's also a lot of fun to work on some crafts "just because," like these friendship crafts for preschoolers. Working on and creating crafts with your preschooler not only works on his creativity skills, but also teaches them about following directions, being organized, working neatly, and (most importantly), cleaning up when you are finished. If your plan to give these crafts to someone else (they are all about friendship), your preschooler will also start to understand about doing nice things for others.

Some of these friendship craft for preschoolers can be done solo (or just you and your preschooler), but others are great with a larger group (for example a preschool class or within a playgroup) or on a playdate. The best way to celebrate friendship is with a friend, right?

Before you start to work on the crafts, talk to your little one about friendship, and what they think friendship is. What does your preschooler think makes a good friend? What does he like to do with his friends?

Special note: as with any craft project that you may do with your child, lay out all the supplies first. This way you can get everything organized before your preschooler arrives on the scene.

Friendship "Quilt"

Helping to be creative — kate_sept2004/Vetta/Getty Images

Note: If you are the class parent or part of a playgroup, this is a great craft for a group of preschoolers or even a preschool class. When the kids are finished, be sure to hand it in a central location!

What you need:
construction paper
glitter
glue
crayons and markers
a variety of art supplies including stickers, yarn, sequins, etc.

Get crafting!
Give each preschooler a piece of paper and ask them to decorate it however they choose. You can pick a theme or not. Once each child is done, connect all of the pieces together for a beautiful friendship "quilt."

Friendship Bracelets

What you need:
colored string, pipecleaners or yarn
beads or colored circle-shaped cereals

Get crafting!
Many older kids really enjoy making friendship bracelets for friends and family members. While preschooler's little hands don't quite have the dexterity to work the thin strands of floss, they can make friendship bracelets of their own to give out, using string, yarn, or pipe cleaners and beads or colored cereals. While fun to make, this craft also does a great job of working fine motor muscles.

Friendship Hand Wreath

What you need:
pencil
construction paper
scissors
paper plate
glue
hole puncher
yarn

Get crafting!
Cut out the inside circle of a paper plate and punch a hole near the top. Trace your preschooler's hand multiple times (or if there are a lot of kids, do a couple for each). Glue the paper hands onto the plate, fingers facing out. You can decorate the hands however your preschooler would like -- writing names, writing what your little one likes so much about the person she is going to give the wreath to, etc.

Friendship Paper Chain

What you need:
construction paper
ruler
glue or tape
crayons or markers
pencil

Get crafting!
Have your preschooler choose a "subject" for the craft. Before you start, cut the construction paper into strips. Ask your preschooler her favorite characteristics about this person. Write one per strip. When you are finished, help your preschooler make a chain using the strips and the tape.

Buddy Tracing

Note: You'll need two or more preschoolers for this project.

What you need:
Two large pieces of paper or a roll of butcher paper
Pencil
Crayons and markers
Assortment of craft supplies -- glitter, feathers, stickers, sequins, yarn, etc

Get crafting!
Partner the preschoolers up, and then have them take turns lying on the paper. Help the preschooler who isn't lying on the ground trace the first preschooler using a pencil. Then have them swap places, using a new piece of paper for the second child. Once everyone has a traced version of themselves, encourage them to decorate their paper versions however they like.

Friendship Collage

What you need:
magazines
scissors
glue
markers
large piece of paper

Get crafting!
Let your preschooler decide who she'd like to make the collage for. Write that person's name in the center of the paper. Then with your preschooler, go through the magazines, asking her to pick out pictures that describe the person the collage is for. It could be things the person likes, places the person likes to go and more. For a personal touch, add a picture of the special person with your preschooler.