Normally, my kids follow a rigorous bedtime schedule, but when we took them camping a few years back, we had a great time gazing at the sky.
They had a lot of questions about why stars twinkle, what they are made of, and how far they are. Since my kids are pretty young, we gave them simple answers, but when we got back home, I decided to capitalize on this interest and introduced them to constellations.
I also made them take part in different arts and crafts projects. I have made a list of these activities down below.
Interesting Star activities for children
My aim with the activities listed below was to engage toddlers and preschoolers in fun activities that would foster their creativity and be enriching for them.
I have also mentioned a variety of different snacks and desserts that you can make in the shape of stars for your children. The recipes are intentionally simple so your children can help in the kitchen.
Star Drawing Activity
This is a wonderful activity to teach toddlers and preschoolers about different shapes and spatial awareness, improving their dexterity and drawing ability.
All you need to do is instruct your child to draw stars ⭐ on black construction paper. Give them a variety of arts and crafts materials like paint, crayons, tiny pebbles, markers, dead leaves, beans, etc, and ask them to use these materials to fill the inside of the stars.
Popsicle Sticks StarCraft
This Christmas, decorate your Christmas tree with hand-made ornaments made by your children.
What you need-
Popsicle sticks, paint, pom poms, strings, and glue.
Steps-
- Cover your workstation with newspaper or a reusable plastic sheet.
- Paint several popsicle sticks with different festive colors. Let the paint dry.
- Arrange four popsicle sticks in the shape of a star ⭐. Apply glue to the edges of the popsicle stick to secure its shape. Repeat the process with other popsicle sticks.
- Decorate the popsicle stick stars with pom poms and glitter.
- Cut small pieces of strings and tie them around the popsicle sticks to hang from the tree. Your popsicle stick ornaments are ready.
Decorate Your Toddler’s Room With Stars
If you are currently in the process of sleep training your child, then by the end of this activity, you will have plenty of glow-in-the-dark stars ⭐ to decorate your child’s ceiling with.
I have noticed that making these glow-in-the-dark stars is easy and cheap. Plus, your child is at liberty to change their ceiling as they desire.
What you need-
Glow-in-the-dark paint, cardboard, double tape, scissors ✂️, and a marker.
Steps-
- On cardboard, draw 100 stars ⭐ of different sizes with a marker. Cut with scissors.
- Paint each star with glow-in-the-dark paint. Let the first coat dry completely before applying another coat and follow it up with two more coats for maximum glow.
- Apply double tape to the back of the cardboard stars ⭐ and then stick them to your child’s room’s ceiling, cupboards, etc.
Star Shaped Berry Shortcakes
This super easy shortcake 🎂recipe will take no time to become a favorite dessert.
What you need-
Chopped strawberries, blueberries, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, buttermilk, and coarse sugar.
Steps-
- In a small bowl, mix some chopped strawberries with granulated sugar. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat.
- To make the shortcake, in a large food processor bowl, sift 2 to 3 cups of all-purpose flour, a quarter of a cup of granulated sugar, four teaspoons of baking powder, half a teaspoon of baking soda, and one teaspoon of salt. Mix everything.
- Cut three-quarters of a cup of cold butter into small cubes and add it to the food processor with the dry ingredients. Pulse everything together until small crumbs form.
- Now, pour one cup of cold buttermilk into the food processor. Fold everything with a spatula, and while the dough is still a little wet, take it out of the food processor and onto a clean, floured surface.
- Work the dough and then roll it with a rolling pin. Now, fold the dough on itself and roll it again. Repeat the process a couple of times.
- Roll out the dough again and use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut the dough. Use the scraps to make more shortcakes.
- Place the star-shaped shortcakes on the baking sheet. Brush the sides and top of the shortcakes with buttermilk. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top.
- Bake in the oven for at least 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven after the shortcakes 🎂 appear golden brown. Let them cool.
- To make the whipped cream, whisk one cup of heavy cream, a quarter of a cup of granulated sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Pipe the whipped cream on the shortcakes and decorate with the strawberries and blueberries.
Star Wand
After reading my kids Roald Dahl’s The Witches, they insisted I buy them a wand. Instead, I asked them to make their own wands.
What you need-
Cardboard, long wooden dowel, glitter, scissors ✂️, pencil, craft glue, ribbon, and pom poms.
Steps-
- Ask your child to draw a star ⭐ of any size on the cardboard. Then, assist them in cutting it with scissors.
- Wrap your child’s working station with old newspaper or plastic. With tape or glue, secure a large wooden dowel to the star.
- Cover the cardboard star with glue and ask your child to sprinkle glitter. Once the glue has dried, repeat the process on the other side. Make sure to cover the wooden dowel with glue and glitter as well.
- Decorate the wooden dowel with ribbon and pom poms. The wands are ready.
Wood and Paper Stars
These window hangings put a whimsical touch to my children’s room.
What you need-
Wooden coffee stirrers, string, needles, crepe paper, scissors ✂️, and glue.
Steps-
- Use four coffee stirrers and glue to make a star ⭐.
- Apply glue to the back of the star and paste a crepe paper to it.
- Cut excess paper with scissors ✂️or fold the paper.
- Use a needle to poke a hole in the top of the star.
- Tie a long string to it, and your stars ⭐are ready to hang.
Read Children’s Books On Stars
There are several children’s books with beautiful illustrations about anthropomorphized stars ⭐ and non-fiction books on the subject of constellations and the formation of stars.
Here are some of the books that I recommend reading with your child- Star in the Jay by Sam Hay, How To Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers, Blackout by John Rocco, Fancy Nancy Sees Stars by Jane O’Connor, How The Stars Fell Into The Sky: A Navajo Legend by Jerrie Ougton, and Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Ross Sisson.
Star-Shaped Fruit Pops
Make your picky eaters eat healthy fruits with this adorable fruit snack.
What you need-
Star-shaped cookie cutters, wooden skewers, watermelon 🍉, pineapple, and blueberries.
Steps-
- Slice the watermelon 🍉into thin slices and use the star-shaped cookie cutters to cut the red portion of the melons.
- Similarly, make star-shaped slices out of the pineapple.
- To assemble, insert a few blueberries on the wooden skewer. Follow it up with the watermelon 🍉 and pineapple slices.
- To secure the fruits, place a blueberry at the end. Repeat the process on other sticks.
Discover Your Own Constellation
If you enjoy camping with your children, challenge them to find their own constellation. This exercise is best done on a clear day or after it has finished raining.
After your children have discovered their constellation, you can also ask them to develop a story around the constellation. You can also share a story or two about different real-life constellations as well.
Star Sensory Bag
Sensory bags are not just easy to make but quite beneficial for children as well. They help children get accustomed to new sensations, feelings, and textures.
What you need-
Ziplock bag, clean hair gel, star-shaped stickers, star-shaped confetti, and black poster board.
Steps-
- Use a ziplock bag as a template to cut the black poster board.
- Decorate the black poster board with the star-shaped stickers and paste this side to one side of the ziplock bag.
- Fill the ziplock bag with clear gel, and add glitter and star-shaped confetti.
- Use tape to seal the ziplock bag. The star ⭐sensory bag is ready to play with.
Recite a Poem About Stars
Help your children learn how to recite a poem about stars ⭐. There are many wonderful children’s poems to choose from on the subject of stars.
Start by asking your child to follow how you recite the poem, and then teach them the choreography associated with it. Schools focus on poems from such a young age because they help children better grasp their language, improve their physical development, strengthen their memory, and even improve critical thinking.
Star-Shaped Caprese Sandwiches
I think I have passed my love for Caprese sandwiches 🥪 to my children because they finish their plates every time I make it for them.
What you need-
French bread loaf, salt, basil leaves, a large star-shaped cookie cutter, tomatoes 🍅, and cubed mozzarella.
Steps-
- Thinly slice the tomatoes.
- Thinly slice the bread loaf. Use the star-shaped cookie cutter to shape the bread slice into stars ⭐. Toast the bread slices in a toaster or a griddle.
- Place a few basil leaves, a tomato 🍅 slice, and mozzarella cubes on one bread slice. Place another bread slice on top and press lightly. Serve straight away.
Make Your Own Constellation
A constellation is a cluster of stars ⭐that forms a unique pattern. This exercise aims to actualize your children’s imagination and get a glimpse of what their constellations would look like.
What you need-
Arts and crafts supplies, glue, and black construction paper 📄.
Steps-
- You can instruct your child to start by making an outline of their constellation on black construction paper 📄with a pencil.
- Then, ask them to use any art supplies made available to them to decorate the constellation.
Use this exercise as a stepping stone to ask your child questions like if they have seen a constellation in real life, if they know the mythology behind the constellation, and what they think constellations are made of.
Star Sponge Craft
My preschooler was a big fan of this star ⭐sponge craft.
What you need-
Kitchen sponge, marker, scissors ✂️, black construction paper, yellow and white paint, and paintbrush.
Steps-
- Instruct your child to draw a star ⭐on the kitchen sponge. Cut with scissors ✂️.
- Squirt the yellow and white paint on a paper 📄 plate.
- Dip the sponge in the yellow paint and stamp on the black construction paper.
- Repeat with white paint.
Star Shaped Rice Krispies
If you are organizing an astronomy-themed birthday party, then you must try out this snack.
What you need-
Rice Krispie cereal, mini marshmallows, butter, dark chocolate 🍫chips, star-shaped cookie cutters, and parchment paper 📄.
Steps-
- Melt a bar of butter and 3 cups of mini marshmallows in a large saucepan. Constantly stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and add 5 cups of Rice Krispie cereals. Mix everything and pour on top of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper 📄.
- Once the Rice Krispie cereal has set, cut it with a star-shaped cookie cutter.
- Cover the star-shaped Rice Krispie cereal treats with melted chocolate 🍫 and candy of your choice.
Star Shaped Photo Frame DIY
Educate your child on the importance of recycling a used object for a different purpose with this adorable picture frame.
What you need-
A cutter, ruler, cardboard box, photo, paint, paintbrush, and glitter.
Steps-
- With the help of a cutter, assist your child in carefully disassembling a cardboard cereal box so that you are left with four rectangles.
- On the wide rectangles, draw two stars ⭐ of the exact same size and variation. Cut them with scissors ✂️.
- On one of the star ⭐ cardboards, place the picture you wish to frame in the center. Trace the photo’s boundaries on the cardboard. Use a cutter to cut the cardboard star.
- Instruct your child to decorate the boundary with paint and glitter.
- While the paint is drying, glue the photo on the remaining star-shaped cardboard piece.
- Now, paste the decorated boundary on top of the other star-shaped cardboard with the photo.
- Secure a string to the back of the cardboard picture frame.
Your child can use this idea to make a board of their favorite memories, people, friends, places, or animals.
Star-Shaped Stamp
This activity was a big hit with my daughter, who loves to use this in every art project now.
What you need-
Pipe cleaners, paint, construction paper, scissors ✂️, star-shaped cookie cutters, and glue.
Steps-
- Manipulate the pipe cleaners in the shape of a star ⭐ with the help of a cookie cutter.
- Cut a piece of pipe cleaner, bend it, and paste it on two corners of the star.
- Squirt different paint colors on a paper plate.
- Dip the star-shaped stamp on the plate and then stamp it on the construction paper 📄. You can reuse the stamp for other projects and use the same method to make other stamps.
Galaxy Playdough Recipe
Children love playing with playdough. Playdough engages our child’s tactile senses and fosters creativity.
What you need-
Flour, water, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, salt, food coloring, glitter, edible star ⭐decoration, and star-shaped cookie cutters.
Steps-
- In a small saucepan, sift one cup of flour, a third of a cup of salt, and two teaspoons of cream of tartar.
- Mix a cup of water and a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a small mixing bowl.
- Add the liquid ingredients to the saucepan and stir on medium heat until the dough becomes lumpy and sticks to itself.
- Let the dough cool down slightly before dividing it into three equal balls on a clean workplace.
- Add a few drops of pink, purple, and blue food coloring on each playdough, along with edible glitters and stars ⭐.
- Instruct your child to knead the dough until everything is well incorporated. The dough is ready to be played with. Your child can mix all of the dough together to create a galaxy and even use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut the dough.
Non-Alcoholic Star Sangria
This non-alcoholic sangria is a great way to cool down on a hot summer’s day.
What you need-
Strawberries 🍓, blueberries, pineapple, lemon 🍋, cranberry juice, and Sprite (or sweetened lime soda).
Steps-
- Slice the lemon 🍋 and use a star-shaped cookie cutter to remove the rinds.
- Similarly, shape pineapple slices into stars ⭐ with a cookie cutter.
- Chop a couple of strawberries 🍓 in large chunks.
- Now, in a large pitcher, place all of the fruits and top it off with cranberry juice.
- Let the fruits sit in the juice for a couple of hours.
- Right before serving, mix the lemon 🍋 soda with the fruit juice. Serve with ice cubes.
Star Bracelet
Help your child make a fashionable bracelet with star-shaped beads. Activities like these are a great way to foster creativity amongst children, improve their spatial awareness, and develop an aesthetic sense.
What you need-
Star ⭐beads and an elastic string.
Steps-
- Wrap a piece of string around your child’s hand. Cut the string so that it is slightly longer.
- Instruct your child to start adding the star-shaped beads into the string, forming a unique pattern. Tie a knot to form a bracelet.
Pipe Cleaner Constellation
Strengthen your child’s fine motor skills and observational skills by making them build models of different constellations using pipe cleaners.
What you need-
Pictures of different constellations, gold star-shaped beads, and pipe cleaners.
Steps-
- The gold star-shaped beads represent stars, whereas the pipe cleaners represent the imaginary lines we draw to form a constellation.
- Instruct your child to feed the star ⭐ beads into the pipe cleaners and bend the pipe cleaners to match the picture of the constellation in front of them. Repeat the activity with other constellations.
Shooting Star Chalk Drawing
Your children will have a great time making this drawing.
What you need-
Star cookie cutter, black construction paper, a Q-tip, scissors ✂️, and pastel chalks.
Steps-
- Hand your child the star cookie cutter and use it as a template to draw a star ⭐ with pastel chalk on the black construction paper 📄. Repeat the process with other pastel chalks.
- After you have finished tracing, assist your child in smudging the chalk with a Q-tip or your fingers.
- Now, using the chalks, help your child draw a trail of stardust shooting from the star ⭐.
Star Cookies
This cookie recipe is easy to whip up whenever my kids want to eat a cookie.
What you need-
Softened butter, sugar, large eggs 🥚, vanilla extract, baking soda, shortening, brown sugar, orange juice concentrate, all-purpose, salt, confectioner’s sugar, and whole milk.
Steps-
- Whisk one and a half cups of softened butter in a mixing bowl. Add half a cup of shortening, one cup of brown sugar, and one cup of sugar to the butter and mix until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- One by one, add two eggs 🥚, a quarter of a cup of orange juice concentrate, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract to the creamed butter.
- Add 5 cups of all-purpose flour to the butter and one teaspoon of baking soda and salt. Mix everything with a wooden spoon 🥄, cover the dough with a kitchen roll, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
- Once the dough has rested, roll the dough on a clean, floured surface and use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut the dough.
- Place the dough on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool down on a wire rack.
- Meanwhile, make the vanilla frosting by whisking 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar with a quarter of a cup of melted butter 🧈, one teaspoon of orange juice concentrate, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a couple of teaspoons of whole milk.
- I like to decorate the cookies with a dollop of frosting and sprinkles.
Stars and Clothespins Color Matching Game
Improve your child’s color identification skills, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills.
What you need-
Clothespins in different colors and stars 🌟in different colors.
Steps-
- Scatter the stars and the clothespins on your child’s workstation.
- Instruct them to match the clothespins to the stars 🌟 of the same color.
- Once they have finished doing so, you can even ask them to attach the clothespin to their clothes of the same color or other household items.
- Guide them whenever they get stuck.
Magic Toothpick Star Science Experiment
Teach your child this fun science experiment that they can show off to their friends.
What you need-
A small paper plate, water, a medicine dropper, and wooden toothpicks.
Steps-
- Instruct your child to bend five toothpicks in half. Make sure that the two parts of the toothpick are still attached.
- Arrange the toothpicks in the shape of a star 🌟on the paper plate.
- Now, instruct your child to fill the medicine dropper with water and, drop by drop, add water in the middle of the star.
- You will soon start to notice that the water will push the toothpicks and form a star 🌟.
Borax Christmas Star Ornament
For Christmas this year, instead of buying ornaments, make them at home with your children.
What you need-
Borax, pipe cleaners, thin ribbons, mason jars, water, star-shaped cookie cutters, and popsicle sticks.
Steps-
- Use a cookie cutter to make the stars 🌟out of the pipe cleaners. Cut the excess pipe cleaner off and repeat the process to make other stars with different colors of pipe cleaners.
- Tie a small piece of string around each star. The piece of string should be long enough to hang from.
- Slide two to three strings with stars 🌟 on them on a popsicle stick and place the popsicle stick on top of the lid of mason jars in such a way that the stars dangle inside the jar without touching each other.
- In a measuring cup, mix the borax with boiling water until the borax is dissolved.
- Pour enough of this mixture inside the jar to cover the stars completely. You do not have to fill the entire jar.
- Crystals take at least a couple of hours to form. So, you should leave the jars as it is overnight.
- Carefully remove the ornaments from the jars once enough crystals have formed, and lay the ornaments down on the paper 📄 towel to dry. You can now use these ornaments to decorate your tree or windowsill.
Star Shaped Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Fluff Grilled Sandwich
This is a special treat I whip out every now and again after school to lift their spirits when they get tired.
What you need-
Bread, peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, butter, star-shaped sandwich 🥪cutter, and apples.
Steps-
- Use the star-shaped sandwich cutter to cut the bread slices. I usually make two sandwiches per child. Therefore, you do the maths according to the number of children you have.
- Spread peanut 🥜butter on one slice and marshmallow fluff on another. Close the two pieces together.
- Spread room temp butter on both sides of the bread and place on a skillet set on medium heat. Flip after 2 minutes of cooking or until each side is golden brown and crispy.
- Cut the sandwiches 🥪in half and serve with apples or other fruits.
Star-Shaped Crayons
Do your kids have hundreds of oil crayons stubs? Then this craft is perfect for them.
What you need-
Star-shaped silicone molds, oil crayon stubs, and a knife.
Steps-
- Ask your child to remove any paper 📄 wrapping from the oil crayon stubs.
- Then, ask them to start placing the stubs inside the silicone star-shaped mold. The crayons 🖍️ can be multicolored to make a new color.
- Place the mold inside a preheated oven set at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until the crayons have melted.
- Carefully remove the mold from the oven and let the crayons cool down and harden completely before popping them from the mold.
Marshmallow Constellation Crafts
Help your child make 3D representations of constellations with marshmallows and toothpicks.
What you need-
Marshmallows, toothpicks, and pictures of different constellations.
Steps-
- Hand your child pictures of different constellations and then ask them to replicate them with the help of marshmallows and toothpicks.
Star Suncatcher
This adorable craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
What you need-
Clear contact paper, yellow tissue paper, blue and yellow construction paper, and glitter.
Steps-
- Draw cutouts of stars 🌟 from the blue and yellow construction paper.
- Use the cutouts of the star to make stars out of the contact paper 📄.
- Peel the backing from the contact paper and paste the cutout on it.
- Sprinkle the glitter on top of the sticky side of the contact paper.
- Now, ask your child to cut strips from the tissue paper and start pasting them on top of the glitters.
- The suncatchers are ready to be taped to the windows.
3D Star Mobile Craft
If a friend or family member has a baby, ask your child to help you make this adorable mobile crib.
What you need-
Cardstock paper, scissors ✂️, stretchy cord, hot glue, twine, and long wooden dowels.
Steps-
- Take two wooden dowels of the same length and place one wooden stick on top of the other to form a cross. The middle point of both the wooden dowels should meet one another.
- Secure the wooden dowels to each other with a twine.
- Follow a YouTube tutorial to make the 3D stars from the construction paper, or you can also buy them.
- Attach a stretchy thread to the back of the stars🌟and tie them to the wooden dowel.
Conclusion
Stars are fascinating not just for kids but also for adults. It reminds us how vast our solar system and the universe are.
When our kids are younger, it is important that we educate them about the vastness of the universe, and arts and crafts are a great way to introduce them to these topics. Hopefully, your kids will enjoy taking part in the activities mentioned above.
In the comment section below, let us know which activity your children enjoyed participating in the most.
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)