With a few colorful sheets of felt, you can make four different toddler learning activities perfect for busy bags, traveling, or quiet time. Plus, I’ve even included a free pattern to make this DIY project even easier! Don’t worry, there’s no sewing involved!

Use these activities to foster fine motor development, color matching, number recognition, shape sorting, and more. Many of these activities are open-ended, so they become what the child makes of them.

While I’ve listed the materials for each project below, you will be able to complete all of these projects with only six sheets of felt.

1. Button Flowers

For toddlers learning how to fasten a button, these flowers provide an excellent way for them to practice a practical life skill. Plus, it’s a fun way for kids to also practice color matching.

Materials

1. Colorful Felt (red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange)
2. 6 Large Buttons that Match the Felt Colors
3. 6 Craft Sticks
4. Hot Glue Gun
5. Scissors
6. Pen/Pencil/Chalk (something to write with)
7. Free template by Kindred Inspiration (see link below)

Instructions

1. Cut out the flower shape on my template
2. Trace the outline of the flower on your felt sheets and cut them out.
3. Fold the felt flowers in half and cut a small slit on the seam. (Make sure it’s big enough to slide the button through.)
4. Using a hot glue gun, glue the buttons to the top of each craft stick.

2. Ribbon Lacing

This lacing activity promotes fine motor development and can also be used to teach shapes, colors, numbers, and patterns. For instance, you may add numbers to each swatch of felt and ask your child to lace them in order or you may ask you child to only lace circles or follow a pattern. I love how open ended this activity is for kids!

Materials

1. Colorful Felt (red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange)
2. 2 Buttons
3. Ribbon (about the length of your arm)
4. Hot Glue Gun
5. Scissors
6. Pen/Pencil/Chalk (something to write with)
7. Free template by Kindred Inspiration (see link below)

Instructions

1. Cut out the shapes you’d like to use from my template.
2. Trace the outline of your shapes on your felt sheets and cut them out.
3. Fold the felt shapes in half and cut a small slit on the seam. (Make sure it’s big enough to fit the button through.)
4. Using a hot glue gun, glue the buttons to each end of the ribbon.

3. Rainbow Layering Puzzle

My tot has not been too excited over this one, but I’m hoping she may come around. Either way, it was really simple to create and a great tool for teaching young children about rainbows, the color spectrum, and sizes. Also, it’s small enough to fit easily into a purse or busy bag for travel, restaurants, or church services.

Materials

1. Colorful Felt (red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange)
3. Scissors
4. Pen/Pencil/Chalk (something to write with)
5. Free template by Views From a Step Stool (click here to download)

Instructions

1. Cut out each half circle from the template.
2. Trace the outline or each on its corresponding color of felt.
3. Cut out the felt shapes.
5. Show children how to stack them from big to small and make a rainbow.

Popsicle Matching

This popsicle activity kept popping up in my searches, and I thought it was so cute that I had to try it. I know that mine is not as cute as some of the ones you may come across on Pinterest or Etsy, but this quick, DIY version works for me and my toddler.

My little one really enjoys matching the colors and pretending to eat the popsicles. Plus, sliding the craft sticks into the felt is still a little challenging for her! Overall, even this quick version is cute and, more importantly, engaging for my toddler.

Materials

1. Colorful Felt (red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange)
2. 6 Craft Sticks that Match the Felt
3. Fabric Glue or Hot Glue Gun
4. Scissors
5. Pen/Pencil/Chalk (something to write with)
6. Free template by Kindred Inspiration (see link below)

Instructions

1. Cut out my popsicle shape on my template and make sure it’s a good size for your craft stick.
2. Fold your felt in half.
3. Trace the popsicle shape on one side of your felt and cut it out so that you have two identical pieces for each color.
4. Use fabric glue (or your hot glue gun) to glue the matching sets together, leaving enough room for the craft stick in at the bottom.
5. After its dry, insert your craft sticks to ensure that each stick fits.

Free Printable Felt Pattern

Click the download button below for my free pattern template. This downloadable PDF includes the shapes for all activities except the rainbow activity. I found the rainbow activity on Views from a Step Stool blog, so here’s a link to their free template (click here).

I hope you enjoy these learning activities as much as we did! If you’re interested in more DIY felt activities, check out my Pinterest board. I love that these activities are so easy and cost-effective to make. Plus, they travel well, challenge my little one, and engage her during quiet time. They make the perfect addition to any busy bag!

More Toddler Busy Bag Activities

• See how to make a travel-size busy book. Easy, printable learning activities that you can fit in your purse, backpack, or carry-on. If you can use scissors, you can make a busy book!

• Printable play dough mats (also in travel-size) help foster imaginative play. Check out my free printable mermaid play dough mats and Oktoberfest play dough mats as well as the latest designs in my Etsy shop.

• Free printable play scenes such as farm, sunken treasure, and camping are easy to pack in busy bags. Add stickers or favorite toys to bring these scenes to life.

Thanks for visiting my site! Share your favorite felt activities in the comments below. I’m always looking for new ideas!