Fun and Easy Bonfire Night Crafts for Toddlers

Oh, I remember last year trying to get my little one excited for Bonfire Night — and honestly, it was a bit of a mess at first. Glitter everywhere, tiny hands trying to glue things in all the wrong places, and me, panicking a little because I didn’t want anyone getting hurt. But then I realized, hey, it’s all about the fun, the colors, and those little sparks of imagination in their eyes. That’s when I started looking into simple Bonfire Night crafts for toddlers that are actually doable at home. Crafts that are safe, messy in the right way, and keep their attention just long enough for us to sip our tea without chasing them around the room. If you’ve been feeling a bit stressed about keeping your toddler busy during the celebrations, don’t worry — I’ve got a bunch of easy, fun, and sparkly ideas that will make both of you smile.

Bonfire Night Crafts for Toddlers

Bonfire Night is a fun time with fireworks and bonfires. Simple crafts let toddlers join the celebration safely while being creative.

Paper Plate Bonfire

Honestly, paper plate bonfires are such a classic, easy craft that never gets old. I’ve tried this with my niece, and seeing her little hands scrunch up red, orange, and yellow tissue paper to make “flames” was just priceless. You just take a simple paper plate, glue some torn tissue paper in the middle, and add a few brown strips for logs. It’s messy, but the kind of messy that makes toddlers grin from ear to ear.

To be fair, the best part is how creative they get. One time my niece decided the flames needed glitter because “fire sparkles too, Auntie!” Watching her imagination run wild made me realize these crafts are as much about their little minds as they are about the final product. Honestly, it’s so easy, fun, and messy perfection.

Handprint Fireworks

Handprint fireworks are a total favorite in my house. I’ve found that toddlers love seeing their tiny hands turn into exploding fireworks on paper. You just dip their palms into bright paints—red, yellow, blue, whatever—and stamp them around the paper, adding a few lines with a brush for the firework trails. It’s simple but oh-so-effective.

One time, my nephew decided he wanted to “make a rainbow boom!” and went wild with every color he could find. It ended up looking chaotic but amazing, and honestly, that’s the point. These crafts aren’t about perfection; they’re about joy, messy fun, and capturing those little moments where toddlers are proud of what they’ve made.

Toilet Roll Firework Rockets

Toilet roll firework rockets are ridiculously fun. I honestly didn’t expect my toddler to get so into this one. You take an empty roll, decorate it with colored paper, add some sparkly streamers at one end, and ta-da! Rocket ready. We even taped a few together once for a “firework display” on our playroom floor.

The best part? Toddlers love pretending to launch them. I remember my niece yelling “Blast off!” and sending her rocket flying across the living room. Honestly, it’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s the kind of project that makes you feel like a kid again yourself. To be fair, don’t worry about the mess—those streamers end up everywhere, and that’s just part of the chaos.

Salt Dough Sparklers

Salt dough sparklers are, in my opinion, one of the most underrated toddler crafts. I mix up a simple dough—flour, salt, water—and let the kids roll it into little stick shapes. Then we add glitter or paint once baked. My nephew thought it was hilarious that he could “eat the fire,” even though I quickly reminded him it wasn’t food.

To be fair, watching them decorate and shake glitter everywhere is honestly the highlight. It’s tactile, sparkly, and keeps them engaged for a surprisingly long time. Plus, these sparklers actually last as little keepsakes, which I love. Every year, we pull them out and remember the funny little moments that happened while making them.

Firework Collage

Firework collages are my go-to when I want something a bit more artistic but still toddler-friendly. You basically grab any scraps of paper, foil, or tissue and let the kids glue them onto a background to create fireworks. My little cousin once made a “firework garden,” and honestly, I couldn’t stop laughing—it was chaos, but beautiful chaos.

I’ve found that collages give toddlers more freedom to experiment. One minute it’s a red explosion, the next it’s a glittery swirl. Honestly, the messiness is part of the fun, and in my experience, sitting together and chatting while creating makes the craft way more special. It’s less about how it looks and more about the experience.

Tissue Paper Flames

Tissue paper flames are so simple but so satisfying. I usually cut strips of red, orange, and yellow tissue and have the kids glue them onto a piece of black cardboard. My toddler once insisted each flame needed “a dancing wiggle,” so we ended up with a wavy, wild fire. Honestly, that kind of imagination is the best part of crafts.

To be fair, the flames look great even if they’re uneven or messy. I’ve found toddlers love the tactile feeling of the paper, and it’s just perfect for a quick Bonfire Night craft. Plus, the finished product always looks cute pinned on the fridge—like a tiny toddler masterpiece for everyone to admire.

Popsicle Stick Bonfire

Popsicle stick bonfires are hands-on and surprisingly easy. I’ve built a few with my niece, stacking sticks in a cone shape and adding crumpled tissue paper for flames. Honestly, she loved pretending to “toast marshmallows” on our pretend fire. It was like a tiny, indoor camping trip, full of giggles and stories.

The best part? They can help with arranging the sticks, which actually improves their hand-eye coordination. I’ve found toddlers feel super proud when the sticks stay up and the fire looks real. To be fair, it can topple over sometimes, but that’s part of the fun—and it’s always good for a little giggle.

Glittery Star Mobiles

Glittery star mobiles are one of my personal favorites. Honestly, toddlers are mesmerized by anything that sparkles, and this craft delivers. You cut out stars from paper or cardstock, let the kids decorate with glitter and stickers, then hang them on strings from a hanger or stick. My niece was so excited to see them spin in the breeze—it honestly lit up the whole room.

I’ve found it’s also a fun way to talk about the night sky and fireworks. To be fair, glitter ends up everywhere, but honestly, that’s just part of the creative experience. Watching toddlers’ eyes light up at their sparkling stars is worth every sprinkle on the floor.

Firework Painting with Straws

Firework painting with straws is pure messy fun. I let my toddler blow paint through straws onto paper to make exploding shapes. Honestly, it’s chaotic, but the effect looks like real fireworks on the paper. One time my nephew got more paint on his shirt than the paper, and we just laughed—it became part of the memory.

To be fair, this craft teaches control and coordination while still letting them go wild. I’ve found toddlers enjoy experimenting with different colors and directions. Honestly, sometimes the mess is more fun than the finished piece, but seeing their faces when the “fireworks” appear is priceless.

Cotton Ball Smoke Bonfire

Cotton ball smoke bonfires are surprisingly simple. I glue little brown popsicle sticks in a triangle for logs and then glue cotton balls on top to look like smoke. My niece insisted on “adding wind” by waving the cotton, and honestly, it looked adorable. Toddlers love the fluffy texture, and it’s a craft that feels tactile and soft.

I’ve found that even though it’s simple, it sparks imagination. To be fair, it doesn’t look perfect, but that’s exactly why toddlers love it—they get to arrange and rearrange the smoke however they like. Watching them interact with it honestly makes it one of my favorite crafts to do together.

Paper Cup Rockets

Paper cup rockets are such a hit with toddlers. I usually take a paper cup, decorate it with colored paper, and add some tissue paper for flames at the bottom. My nephew loved running around pretending to launch them, yelling “Lift-off!” Honestly, it was like a tiny indoor rocket festival, complete with sound effects and lots of laughter.

I’ve found that toddlers love pretending these rockets actually fly. To be fair, they’re easy to hold and decorate, which keeps little hands busy. Honestly, the simple joy on their faces when they push the cup across the floor makes all the prep worth it. It’s a craft that’s fun to make and even more fun to play with.

Shiny Foil Fireworks

Shiny foil fireworks are so satisfying to make. I just cut foil into strips or small shapes, and toddlers stick them on black paper. Honestly, the way it catches the light is magical. My niece once called it “magic sparkles,” and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Toddlers love peeling and pressing, and it feels almost like creating real fireworks on paper.

To be fair, this one is quick but feels super impressive. I’ve found toddlers get a lot of pride from seeing how sparkly their work looks. Honestly, it’s messy-free compared to paint and glitter, which makes it one of my go-to crafts when I want something shiny but easy.

Fingerprint Fireworks

Fingerprint fireworks are a personal favorite because they’re tiny, personal, and perfect for little hands. You just dip their fingers in paint and stamp onto paper to make fireworks bursts. My nephew loved naming each color explosion, and honestly, it was hilarious to hear “Blue Kaboom!” and “Yellow Boom-Boom!” throughout the room.

I’ve found toddlers love the tactile nature of this craft. To be fair, sometimes they smudge everything, but honestly, that’s part of the fun—it looks like a chaotic, colorful night sky. Fingerprint fireworks are messy, easy, and capture those little hands forever, which in my opinion is just priceless.

Cardboard Tube Fireworks

Cardboard tube fireworks are easy and fun. I grab toilet paper or paper towel rolls, let toddlers paint or wrap them in colored paper, then add streamers or foil at one end. Honestly, it’s like giving them a mini rocket kit. My niece once made a “giant rainbow firework” with three tubes stuck together, and honestly, it was chaos but absolutely adorable.

I’ve found toddlers love holding them up, pretending to launch them, and arranging them in little displays. To be fair, it can get a bit wobbly, but honestly, that’s part of the toddler charm. These tubes are cheap, easy, and keep little hands and imaginations busy for ages.

Sparkler Paper Wands

Sparkler paper wands are just pure toddler joy. I tape or glue glittery pipe cleaners or paper strips to a stick, and suddenly, they’re waving their very own “sparklers.” Honestly, seeing my niece run around pretending to light up the room was priceless. Toddlers love the motion, the colors, and pretending they’re at a real Bonfire Night.

I’ve found it’s also a great way to talk about fireworks safety in a playful way. To be fair, you might end up with glitter and bits of paper everywhere, but honestly, that’s part of the fun. Watching toddlers’ faces light up while “waving” their sparklers is honestly one of my favorite Bonfire Night moments.

Tips for Success

Doing crafts with toddlers can be messy but lots of fun. Here are some tips to make your Bonfire Night craft time easier and more enjoyable:

• Keep craft time short: Limit sessions to 10–20 minutes to match toddlers’ attention spans.

• Encourage creativity: Let toddlers explore and create freely; don’t worry about perfection.

• Use washable materials: Choose washable paints and glue for easy clean-up.

• Make it fun: Play Bonfire Night-themed music or read short stories while crafting to keep toddlers engaged.

FAQ

What age is suitable for Bonfire Night crafts?

These crafts are perfect for toddlers aged 2–5 years, with adult supervision.

Are these crafts safe for toddlers?

Yes, as long as you use non-toxic, toddler-safe materials and supervise them at all times.

How long should a craft session last for toddlers?

Keep sessions short, around 10–20 minutes, to match toddlers’ attention spans.

Can messy materials like paint and glitter be used?

Yes, but use washable paints and glitter to make clean-up easy and safe.