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The quick answer
The easiest ocean crafts for 3-5 year olds use the recycling: a paper plate octopus, a loo roll jellyfish, a bubble wrap print turtle and foam sailboats. Keep googly eyes, washable paint, child-safe scissors, PVA glue and foam sheets in the cupboard.
On holiday Verity made a very pink octopus from a paper chain craft kit, and a little fleet of foam sailboats. Here are our favourite ocean crafts, most using stuff from the recycling.
Paper plate octopus
Paint a paper plate, cut it in half and stick on eight paper strip legs (curl them round a pencil). Googly eyes are compulsory.
Loo roll jellyfish
Paint a cardboard tube, snip the bottom half into strips for tentacles, and hang it from string.
Bubble wrap turtle
Paint bubble wrap green and press it onto paper for a shell pattern, then cut out a turtle shape.
Foam sailboats
Foam sheets, a straw for a mast and a triangle sail. Add stickers for flags.
Handy supplies
- Googly eyes (one big pack lasts forever)
- Washable paint and chunky brushes
- Child-safe scissors and PVA glue
- Foam sheets
Verity hasn't had her say on this one yet. Her honest verdict goes here once she has, good or bad.
Questions parents ask
What ocean craft is easiest for a 3 year old?
The bubble wrap turtle. Paint bubble wrap green, press it on paper and you've got a shell pattern. You do the cutting.
What craft supplies are worth buying?
A big pack of googly eyes, washable paint, chunky brushes, child-safe scissors, PVA glue and foam sheets.
How do I make a paper plate octopus?
Paint a paper plate, cut it in half and stick on eight paper strip legs. Curl the legs round a pencil. Googly eyes are compulsory.