May is here and honestly, it is one of the best months to craft with kids. Everything is blooming, the energy is up, and spring themes make it so easy to pull together activities that are fun to do and meaningful at the same time.
When we choose crafts with skill-building in mind, arts and crafts time becomes so much more than a fun activity. It becomes an opportunity to strengthen little hands, build coordination, and support the development kids need for everyday tasks.
These five May crafts come from talented craft bloggers and parents across the web. Every single one of them has skill-building value packed right in. For each craft, I’ll share what I love about them and what skills are being worked on.
Click on the activity title or the photo to visit their post and see the full instructions.
Beautiful Leaf Butterfly Craft by Agnes Hsu https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/leaf-butterfly-art/
What I love about what Agnes did here: Agnes snuck in a full OT workout without it looking like one. Painting builds grip and brush control. Pressing and peeling the leaf targets graded force. Wing arrangement brings in spatial reasoning and midline crossing. And collecting leaves outside? Free sensory input before you even sit down.
Skills worked on: Fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, visual motor integration, sensory processing, symmetry awareness
2. Yarn Wrapped Flower Craft by Emma | Kids Craft Room
Yarn Wrapped Flower Craft by Kids Craft Room https://kidscraftroom.com/yarn-wrapped-flower-craft/
What I love about what Emma did here: This craft nails bilateral hand use in the most natural way. Wrapping yarn tightly around that small cardstock circle takes real hand strength and coordination. One hand has to hold and rotate the circle while the other guides the yarn and maintains tension. That’s the exact hand skill pattern kids need for scissors, clothing fasteners, and writing. Plus, the button at the end adds a quick pincer grasp moment as a finishing touch.
Skills worked on: Fine motor strength, bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination, in-hand manipulation, sustained attention
Hey, would you like a free copy of these crafts to go?
Easy and Fun Torn Paper Strawberry Craft by Fireflies & Mud Pies https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/torn-paper-strawberry-craft/
What I love about what Melissa did here: Melissa nailed it with this one. Tearing paper sends serious proprioceptive feedback through the fingers and hands, way more than your typical table-top craft. For kids who are sensory seekers or still figuring out graded force, that paper resistance is exactly what they need to get regulated before moving into quieter activities. And here’s the thing: it’s genuinely bilateral. Both hands have to work against each other to control that tear. Plus, strawberries in May? Great seasonal fit.
Skills worked on: Sensory processing, proprioception, tactile discrimination, bilateral coordination, graded force
4. Egg Carton Tulips by Amanda | Manda Panda Projects
Egg Carton Tulips by Manda Panda Projects https://mandapandaprojects.com/egg-carton-tulips-a-mothers-day-spring-craft/
What I love about what Amanda did here: The cutting, bending, and molding steps are where the real work happens, and Amanda built them right into the fun. Kids are using both hands together, building hand strength through manipulating that cardboard, and getting great practice with graded force control. The cardboard gives them resistance and feedback that lighter craft materials just can’t match. Plus, it’s a low-cost recycled materials craft, which parents absolutely appreciate.
Skills worked on: Fine motor strength, scissor skills, bilateral coordination, tool use, sensory processing
5. Cardboard Tube Bee Craft by Chelsey | Buggy and Buddy
Cardboard Tube Bee Craft by Chelsey | Buggy and Buddy https://buggyandbuddy.com/cardboard-tube-bee-craft/
What I love about what Chelsey did here: The yarn wrapping step is where all the magic happens. One hand rotates the tube while the other feeds and guides the yarn, keeping tension consistent the whole way through. That sustained bilateral coordination is exactly what so many kids need practice with, and Chelsey wrapped it up in a bee craft that just feels fun. Kids are building the same hand skills they need for writing, but they’re focused on making a fuzzy bee. It’s the kind of activity that gets kids engaged and working hard without them even realizing it.
Skills worked on: Fine motor strength, bilateral coordination, in-hand manipulation, hand-eye coordination, sustained attention
Every snip, tear, fold, and press is doing something. Share these with the parents and teachers in your life and let them see what you see. That is how we help kids, one craft at a time!