Mother's Day in Malta: Simple Handmade Gifts from Little Hands

In Malta, Mother's Day is celebrated in May, and it is a big occasion. Families gather for lunch, flowers fill the shops and children bring home cards from school and childcare. For a mum with a baby or toddler, the most treasured gift is often something small, handmade and a little bit messy.

This guide offers simple handmade gift ideas that babies and toddlers can make with the help of a partner, grandparent or other family member. Many work for grandmothers too, and for Father's Day later in the year.

Handprints and footprints

A baby's handprint or footprint is a classic for good reason. Little hands and feet grow so quickly, and a print captures a moment in time. Use non-toxic paint on thick paper, or press a hand into salt dough or air-dry clay to make a keepsake. Add the date and your child's age.

A toddler painting

Toddlers can make a painting, a collage or a crayon drawing. It does not need to look like anything. Frame it simply or turn it into a card. Our article on starting a toddler art habit has ideas for low-mess creative play.

Pressed flowers

In spring, Malta's countryside is full of wildflowers. On a walk, collect a few fallen petals or leaves (remembering that some plants are protected and best left to grow), then press them in a heavy book. A week later, arrange them on a card. Our guide to spring nature walks in Malta has ideas.

Planting a pot

Toddlers love planting. Help them fill a small pot with soil, plant a herb such as basil or mint, and water it. Decorate the pot with paint or a ribbon. It is a gift that keeps growing. Our article on balcony and courtyard play has more gardening ideas.

Baking together

Simple biscuits or a small cake, made with a toddler's help, make a sweet gift. Stirring, pouring and decorating are wonderful practical life activities. Wrap them in paper and tie with string.

A breakfast tray

Older toddlers can help prepare a simple breakfast: washing fruit, spreading butter on toast, carrying a napkin. The pride on their faces as they bring it to Mum is a gift in itself.

A photo book

A partner or grandparent can put together a small photo book of the past year. Include photos of everyday moments, not just special occasions. Add your toddler's drawings or a few words they have said.

A memory jar

Write down small moments from the year on slips of paper: first words, funny sayings, favourite games. Put them in a jar decorated by your toddler. It becomes a lovely keepsake to read again in years to come.

Thoughtful bought gifts

If you would like to add a bought gift, small, thoughtful things work well: a beautiful book, a plant, a handmade keepsake or a lasting toy for the baby that Mum has had her eye on. Our guides to gifts for new parents and gifts with a little more meaning have more ideas.

The gift of time

For many mums of young children, the most precious gift is time. A morning to rest, an hour to read, a walk alone or a meal out with a friend. A partner or grandparent can take the little ones out for the morning. Our guide to a play basket for Nanna's house can help make that time fun for the children too.

For grandmothers

Many of these ideas work beautifully for grandmothers, who often play a big role in Maltese family life. A handprint, a painting or a pot of herbs from a grandchild is always treasured.

Keep it simple

Toddlers may lose interest halfway through a craft, and that is fine. The gift does not need to be perfect. What matters is the thought and the time spent together.

Keepsakes to treasure

Many families keep handmade gifts in a memory box, alongside other keepsakes from the early years. Our article on the Maltese quċċija mentions keepsake boxes too.

Make it a tradition

Some families make a handprint or footprint every Mother's Day, on the same kind of card, so they can be compared year after year. It is a simple way to see how quickly little hands grow, and it becomes more precious with each year that passes.

Wrapping a handmade gift

Toddlers can help wrap their gifts too. Plain kraft paper decorated with their own stamps, crayon scribbles or thumbprints makes the wrapping part of the gift. Tie it with string or a strip of fabric and add a tag with their name, written by them if they are old enough to try. Our guide to starting a toddler art habit has simple, low-mess materials that work well.

Little Curio is curating plastic-free gifts for families in Malta; see our gift edits.