Need an easy castle activity for toddlers that doesn’t take ages to set up? We made this castle suncatcher craft during our Castle Week and it ended up being one of our favourite activities. It was simple, colourful and gave us a great chance to talk about castles while practising fine motor skills together.
What You’ll Need for This Castle Suncatcher Craft
- Black cardstock
- White gel pen
- Scissors or craft knife (adult use)
- Clear packing tape or contact paper
- Coloured tissue paper
- Sticky tape
We used clear packing tape because that’s what I had at home, but next time I’d definitely use contact paper. It would have made sticking the tissue paper much easier.
How to Set Up This Castle Suncatcher Craft
- Draw a simple castle onto black cardstock using a white gel pen.
- Carefully cut out the windows.
- Cover the back of each window with clear tape or contact paper so the sticky side faces up.
- Cut or tear tissue paper into small pieces.
- Invite your toddler to start filling the castle windows with colourful tissue paper.
Little real-life moment… I definitely made way too many windows! My mum kindly helped cut some of them out because my newborn had decided it was the perfect time to turn into a tiny banshee. Mum life isn’t always like on insta.
How We Played with Our Castle Suncatcher Craft
We actually made this over two sessions, each lasting around 25 minutes. That worked really well because my son stayed interested instead of getting overwhelmed.
My son was 35 months old when we did this activity and he absolutely loved cutting some of the tissue paper into little pieces before carefully sticking them onto the tape. There wasn’t a right or wrong way to do it, which made it really relaxing for both of us.
Once we’d finished, we hung our castle in the window. As soon as the sunshine came through, he looked at it and said, “It’s so colourful!” That little moment made all the cutting worth it.
As part of our Castle Week, we also read one of our favourite castle stories together before making the craft. It gave us lots to chat about while we worked, from towers and windows to kings, queens and knights.
What Toddlers Learn with This Castle Suncatcher Craft
- Fine motor skills through picking up and placing small pieces of tissue paper.
- Pincer grasp and hand strength.
- Hand-eye coordination.
- Colour recognition and colour mixing.
- Focus and patience.
- Creativity and independent decision making.
- New vocabulary including castle, tower, window, stained glass, fortress, transparent, overlap, knight, princess, king and queen.
My Honest Thoughts
I really loved this activity because it felt calm, simple and meaningful. My eldest seemed so happy that we were crafting together again after the baby arrived, and that made it extra special for me.
If I made it again, I’d definitely cut fewer windows and I’d use contact paper instead of clear tape. Even so, it still turned out beautifully and looked lovely hanging in our window afterwards.
I also think splitting the activity into two shorter sessions made it much more enjoyable. We didn’t have to rush, and it fitted around real family life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this castle craft suitable for?
I think it’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, around 2 to 5 years old. Younger children will need help with the cutting.
Can I use something instead of contact paper?
Yes! We used clear packing tape because that’s what we already had at home, and it worked really well.
What skills does this activity develop?
This activity encourages fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, colour recognition, creativ⁶ity, concentration and new vocabulary while introducing children to castles and fairy tale themes.
Related Activities
- Castle Activities for Toddlers
- Fine Motor Activities
- Toddler Crafts
- Rainy Day Activities
Your Turn
If you give this castle suncatcher craft a try, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest using #mommyscrafttime so I can see your little one’s colourful creations.
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