There’s something so entrancing about a big box of buttons. You just want to play with them, stacking them and sorting them in endless ways. That’s what makes buttons so terrific for learning! Try some of these button activities to help kids build fine motor skills, work on math, make cute crafts, and much more.
Note: Smaller buttons can be a choking hazard and might require supervision.
1. Make button sorting cups
Pair brightly-colored buttons with matching containers that have slits cut in the lid. Kids practice identifying colors and sorting, plus get fine motor practice from pushing the buttons through the openings.
Learn more: About Family Crafts
2. Add and subtract with Pete the Cat
Think of buttons, and you just might think of Pete the Cat. There are lots of button activities inspired by Pete, like this one that has kids adding and subtracting his groovy buttons.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
3. Spin a button whirligig
Here’s a classic toy that celebrates the ingenuity of simpler times. Learn how to make your own whirligig at the link.
Learn more: Heaps of Laundry
4. Build a button tower
STEM challenges are fun for all kids, and this one is perfect for the youngest learners. Using only buttons and Play-Doh, how tall of a button tower can you build?
Learn more: The Educators’ Spin On It
5. Spell with button letters
Use buttons to make letter shapes and even spell out your name or sight words. If you like, you can glue them into place for cool artwork too.
Learn more: No Time For Flashcards
6. Create a cute cupcake
Speaking of cool artwork, how adorable are these button cupcakes? We’ll take a baker’s dozen, please.
Learn more: Busted Button
7. Count with button mittens
There are lots of counting button activities, but this one with mittens is one of our favorites. (You could even turn the wristband at the bottom into a 10-frame.)
Learn more: Play to Learn Preschool/Mitten Button Counting
8. Cover beginning letters with buttons
Pass out these free printable playing boards and give each child a handful of buttons. As you say a word out loud, students decide what the beginning letter is and cover it with a button. Play it like bingo to find a winner!
Learn more: Book By Book
10. Use cardboard tube trees to sort
Sorting is one of the most popular button activities, and we like this unique twist. Make cardboard tube trees, then sort the buttons into their trunks.
Learn more: Toddler at Play
11. Learn how to sew buttons
Don’t overlook this simple but important skill! Use plastic canvas with large holes, along with yarn and blunt needles, to teach kids how to sew on a button.
Learn more: Play to Learn Preschool/Sew Buttons
12. Put together a colorful turtle
This adorable little guy is just too sweet to pass up! He’s made using an old CD, lots of buttons, and some googly eyes.
Learn more: Fireflies and Mudpuppies
13. Stack buttons with toothpicks
Button stacking is fun on its own, but when you add Play-Doh and toothpicks, you can build your towers into much higher skyscrapers!
Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons
14. Graph with buttons
Grab a big handful of buttons from the box. Then sort the buttons by size, shape, or color and use them to make a graph.
Learn more: My Joy-Filled Life
15. Craft a button caterpillar
This craft is easy enough for all kids to do, and they’ll have lots of fun sorting through the button box to make the patterns of their caterpillar.
Learn more: Factory Direct Craft
16. Bounce some button springs
These buttons on springs are so much fun to play with! Turn this into a STEM challenge by asking kids to alter the size and shape of their springs to see which can bounce the highest.
Learn more: Lalymom
17. Button up a picture
Buttoning skills practice takes on a new dimension when you have kids match shapes to a picture, then button them into place.
Learn more: Toddler at Play
18. Lay out button patterns
Simple button activities like this encourage kids to recognize patterns and build fine motor skills by placing the buttons properly on the page.
Learn more: Learning 4 Kids
19. Match button colors and shapes
You might call this an “advanced sorting” activity. Use a grid to get kids to sort buttons by several characteristics at once—color and shape.
Learn more: Walking By The Way
20. Assemble a button bowl
We love kid crafts that are actually useful too. Button bowls are surprisingly easy to make and will look cute storing small items in a child’s room.
Learn more: Ideas 2 Live 4
