Mom of Nia House toddler, Kaya (and also Sienna and Evangaline), Morgan knows how to make art engaging and easy. Thanks for your blog post, Morgan!
I don’t know about you but I love a low prep, fast, and easy project that keeps my little ones occupied and learning. Here are some of my favorite art projects for toddlers and preschoolers.
No Mess Water Painting
Materials:
1 container of water
1 paintbrush
A surface that changes color when wet such as concrete, wood, colored construction paper
This is my favorite type of art project because it is waste-free, can be done outside and is mess free! All you do is dip the dry paintbrush in water and then “paint” using the water on the ground, fence, or sidewalk. Here’s a picture of Kaya in action:
Non-paintbrush Painting
aterials:
a few q-tips
paint
Construction paper or paper plate
Using something other than a paintbrush to make art is extra fun for kids. Just dab the q-tip into paint and then dab on paper. In the past, I have used white paint and used this method to make “snow” for a fun winter art project or, like my oldest daughter (who is much more methodical), use this method to make more of a mosaic style picture.
Other Variations on tools to paint with:
An apple cut in half (it will make a cool star shape if sliced the right way)
A carrot
A fork (you can make lines like you’re raking the picture)
An old sponge cut into cool shapes
A lego (use it like a stamp)
A marble (roll it around in a container that has paint and paper in it)
Here’s a cool link with other creative painting tool ideas:
https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2017/07/paint-without-a-paintbrush.html
Recycled Paper Collage
Materials:
Any and all scrap paper materials
Gluestick
Cardboard or sturdy construction paper to glue to
Feeling guilty about all the wasted paper during art time with the kiddos? Use scrap paper (we love to use old circulars, junk mail, or any other materials we find in the recycling bin), and get your fine motor on by tearing up the paper into small pieces and turning it into a work of art using a glue stick to glue the pieces onto a new piece of paper. You can also stick with the recycled theme and simply glue onto a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll for an awesome telescope! If you want to get fancy and not so “green”, tissue paper is a great material to use and can make awesome gifts like this one:
Image from: https://www.flashbugsstudio.com/valentines-paper-collage/