Young children are naturally creative. They love to manipulate and explore art materials. They often are more immersed in and interested in the process of creating than in what the final project will look like When a child creates arts and crafts, he is also learning to express himself and is developing emotional control and problem-solving skills. You will find art ideas and projects throughout this book; however, here are some favourites that both you and your child will enjoy.
Coloring
Coloring may be the most basic and common of all art activities for young children. Crayons are inexpensive and easy to transport and to clean. You will discover that you can spark your child’s imagination by avoiding colouring books and templates and trying these open-ended ideas instead.
Sparkly Pictures
Liven up your child’s colouring projects with this easy idea!
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 10-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
Supplies needed:
Crayons
Dark-colored construction paper
Painbrush
Salt water
1. Have your toddler color any design or picture she wants on a dark-colored sheet of construction paper. Remind her to press hard for the colors to show well.
2. Next, let your child use the brush to paint over her picture with the salt water. (Be sure to stop her before the paper becomes too soggy.) The crayons will resist the water. When the paper dries, the picture will sparkle wherever the salt remains.
Tape Pictures
This is a simple way to encourage your child’s creativity and find motor skills.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Masking tape
Construction paper
Crayons
1. Help your toddler tear the masking tape into smaller pieces and strips.
2. Have her put the tape onto the paper in any design that she wishes.
3. Let her color over the tape. Encourage her to cover as much as the paper as possible.
4. Let her peel back the tape to reveal the picture.
Paper Bag Batik
This process will give your child’s artwork a unique look.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Scissors
1 brown paper bag
Water
Crayons
1. Cut the bag open so that it forms 1 piece of flat paper.
2. Help your toddler soak the bag in water and then squeeze the water out. Let the bagel get wrinkled.
3. The wet bag will tear easily, so open it carefully and lay it flat.
4. Once the bag is dry, your toddler can cbolor a design on it.
Black Magic
This classic activity still delights young children.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 minutes
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
What you need:
White paper
Crayons
Black watercolor paint
Paintbrush
1. Let your child color on the paper with crayons. Avoid dark colors such as black, brown or grey. Show her how to press hard to make sure the crayon marks are heavy.
2. Once the picture is complete, your child will paint over the entire paper with the black watercolor paint. The original crayon drawing will resist the paint and show through.
3. For older toddlers, or with your assistance: Instead of using watercolor paint, help your child cover the picture with a thick layer of black crayon. (All crayon layers must be extra thick for this to work.) Scrape away patters or designs using the side of a coin to reveal the vibrant rainbow colors underneath.
Rough Art
This activity will help your child express creativity and earn about textures.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Crayons or chalk
Different grades of sandpaper
Let your toddler explore coloring on the different textures of sandpaper.
Cupcake Crayons
Recycle and reuse old crayons! The homemade crayons are easy for small hands to hold and they produce bring colors and patterns.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 minutes
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
What you need:
Old crayons and crayon pieces
Muffin tin
Paper muffin or cupcake liners
1. Discard brown, black, and grey crayons.
2. Remove the paper from all crayons. Small fingers may need help with this.
3. Break remaining crayons into small pieces no more than 1/2” long. Supervise your children carefully to ensure they do not put any crayons in their mouths.
4. Distribute crayon pieces into muffin tins lined with liners.
5. Bake at 300 degrees F. until all the crayons are melted together.
6. When cool, remove the new cupcake crayons from the tins—they’ll be ready to use.
Painting
There is no end to the number of creative projects your child can complete with paint. Here you will find unique ideas that go well beyond a plastic palette and a little brush. Nowadays, you can fin paints that are washable to cut down on the cleanup. Also, you should be sure to opt for nontoxic paints whenever you can. As a general rule, tempera paints are best for young artists—watercolours come in less vibrant colors and tend to run, which might frustrate your child. You will also discover that you do that necessarily need store-bought paint for your painting projects.
Wet Chalk Pastels
Using this new take on an old art material, these paintings will look like a professional artist was at work!
Activity for individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Sidewalk chalk in various colors
1 cup water
Dark-colored construction paper
1. Show your child how tip dip the chalk into the water and let it sit for 1 minute.
2. Once the chalk is wet show your child how to color on the paper—don’t press to hard, or the paper will tear. The wet chalk will look like pastel paints.
Sticker Surprise
This activity will help develop your toddler’s line motor skills. Along with or instead of stickers, you can use return address labels, gummed paper reinforced, or simply pieces of masking tape.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
A variety of adhesive stickers
White construction or bond paper
Tempera paint
1. Allow your toddler to choose the stickers he wishes to use. Stickers with distinctly shaped outlines work best.
2. Show him how to attach the stickers to the paper in any arrangement that he chooses.
3. Paint over the entire paper, covering the stickers.
4. Once the paint is dry, help your toddler removes the stickers to reveal the sticker shapes.
Put Thos Paintbrushes Away
Break away from the routine. Let your child’s creativity be the only limit to the materials he can use to paint with.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Paper
Tempera paint
Paintbrush substitute(s), such as condiment squeeze bottles, eyedroppers, fly swatters, spray bottles, makeup applicators, cotton balls, cotton swabs, string, tree bark, feathers, straws, pipe cleaners, or toothbrushes
Let your child paint using any number of paintbrush substitute. He will find that each tool makes a different make on the paper.
Reverse Finger Painting
This nifty process will let your child preserve his finger-painting creations. You can have him paint directly on the table or onto a cookie sheet for easier cleanup.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Finger paints
White construction paper
Cookie sheet (optional)
1. Have your child finger paint on a flat surface.
2. Press the white construction paper on top of the finger paint and rub—a mirror image of the design will transfer to the paper.
Mirror-Image Painting
No two pictures will ever be exactly alike! Watch your child’s delight the he opens up the paper to reveal the new design.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
Supplies needed:
White or light-coloured bond paper
Tempera paints
1. Fold a sheet of paper in half and crease down the middle. Unfold paper.
2. Let your child paint a design on one has of the paper, using the crease as a guide.
3. Fold the paper in half and show your child how to gently rub over the painted design inside.
4. Let your child unfold the tape to reveal his new double design.
Ball Painting
It’s like magic—when you open the box, you’ll find a picture printed inside!
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18-40 month
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Scissors
White or light-colored bond paper
Shoebox with a lid
Masking tape
Tempera paints
Shallow pie tins
Ping-pong or gold balls
1. Cut a piece of paper to fit the bottom of the box. Tape it securely in place.
2. Pour small amounts of paint into the pie tins. Show your toddler how to dip a ball into the paint.
3. Have him place the paint-covered balls into the shoebox. Cover the box with the lid.
4. Let your child gently roll and shake the box around.
5. Remove the ball. Repeat with as many other balls and colors as desired.
Sculpting
Th more your child can handle and manipulate materials, the more she will enjoy the project and the more she will learn. Sculpture encourage your child to be creative, to se thing in a new way, and to think “outside the box.” Let these activities start you off in exploring this art technique with your child.
Yarn Sculpture
Your child will love the okie-gooey feel of the glue and the yarn as she moulds the fun sculpture.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 2 hours
What you need:
Yarn or cord in bright colors
White craft glue
Waxed paper
1. Have your child dip pieces of yarn in the glue to coat.
2. Let your child arrange the yarn pieces onto the waxed paper in any design she wants.
3. Allow the sculpture to dry for a few hours, and then remove it from the waxed paper You may chose to hang it as a mobile for display.
Three-Dimensional Sculpture
This project will turn your toddler into a mini-architect! She will use her problem-solving skills and creativity to make a 3D sculpture.
Activity for an individual child.
Age of group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
White craft glue
Masking tape
Popsicle sticks
Cardboard or poster board in various sizes and shapes
Decorative materials such as foil or ribbon
Allow your child to glue and tape the materials together to create her own 3D sculpture.
Tissue Paper Sculpture
Your child will be developing fine motor skills and using her creativity with this activity.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Colored tissue paper
Small bowl
White craft glue
Water
Cardboard
1. Have your child tear the tissue paper into small pieces. They do not have to be uniform in size.
2. In a small bowl, mix the glue and water in equal parts.
3. Show your child how to crumple up the tissue paper into wads. Dip each wad in the glue mixture and stick onto the cardboard.
4. Your child can add tissue wads onto a growing sculpture mound in this fashion.
Paper Maché
Paper maché is fun for all ages. Your young child will love the feel of the squishy paste. Th best part is that the only limit to your creativity is your imagination. Be warned: This is a messy project.
Activity for an individual child or a group.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 2 days
What you need:
Old newspapers
1 part flour
1 part water
Mold or form (made from materials like wire, boxes or balloons)
Decorating materials
1. Have your child tear the newspaper into strips.
2. Combine the flour and water, adjusting proportions to achieve the consistency of vey loose paste, like runny oatmeal. You may have to make more paste for progressive layers of your project.
3. Help your child dip each strip into the paste mixture and smooth it over the form. You will probably need to help your child squeeze the excess paste off the newspaper strip before removing it from the bowl.
4. Be sure that the entire mold is well covered with the paper strips. Let the layer dry before applying the next layer Large or complex molds need multiple layers small or simple shapes need fewer.
5. Once the sculpture is dry, it will be quite hard. You and your child can decorate it in many ways. Try using paint, markers, and glue with scraps or paper, feathers, or glitter.
Making Collages
There is no end to the number of materials that can be used for collages. Anything that will stick with glue is fair game. Let the ideas below be an inspiration for you and your child to create many variations.
Rice Collage
Your child will enjoy manipulating and gluing the rice. You will enjoy how bright the colors appear. This procedure also work well with dried pasta in distinctive shapes, such as macaroni or wagon wheels.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
What you need:
Rubbing alcohol
Food colouring in various colors
Zip-top plastic sandwich bags (1 for each color used)
Uncooked rice or pasta
Waxed paper
White craft glue
Construction paper
1. For each color, mix 1/4 teaspoon rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food colouring in a zip-top bag. Add 1/4 cup of rice. Seal the bag and shake well.
2. Spread the rice on waxed paper and let dry.
3. Let your child use the glue to make designs on the construction paper. Sprinkle the rice over the wet glue to create a brightly coloured picture. Let dry.
Natural Dye Collage
This activity will produce some very pretty fabric swatches. You may wish to use the resulting collage to make another project from the fabric, such as a kite or doll dress.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Muslin fabric
Natural materials such as berries, flowers, and leaves
1. Spread he muslin on the ground. Measure to middle of the fabric swatch and mark The center line so that fabric is divided in half.
2. Working on one half of fabric, help your child pace his chosen materials into any pattern or design he wishes.
3. Fold the fabric in half with the items inside.
4. Let your toddler pound the items through the muslin with a small hammer or malt. Very young children can also stomp on the fabric to flatter the materials.
5. Open the fabric and brush away the remaining materials to reveal the collage design.
Other Art Media
Art is creative. Look around, and you will find many items and materials to use for art projects. Recycled materials often make super art materials. Oatmeal boxes can become drums, and margarine lids make great coasters. Try keeping a box of miscellaneous materials available for your child to create with.
Bubble Prints
You will be amazed at the unique look of this project.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 months
What you need:
Food colouring
Bubble solution
Pie tin
Plastic drinking straw
Paper
1. Mix a few drops of food colouring into the bubble solution. Pour solution into the pie tin.
2. Have your child use the plastic straw to blow bubbles into the solution. For young children, poke a few tiny holes near the top of the straw, to keep them from sucking up any of the bubble solution.
3. Spread a sheet of paper gently on top of the bubbles to make a print.
Homemade Stickers
Does your child love stickers? Now you can make some from just about any image! This recipe is for adults to prepare. You will then hav finished stickers for your child.
Activity for an individual child.
Makes 1/2 cup sticker glue
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 45 minutes
What you need:
1/2 cup vinegar
4 packets of unflavoured gelatine
1 tablespoon peppermint extract
Sticker materials, such as drawings, cartoons, or magazine pictures
Small brush
1. Boil vinegar in a small saucepan.
2. Add the gelatine, then reduce to low heat and stir until gelatine is completely dissolved. Add extract and mix well.
3. Let the mixture cool before painting on the back of chosen images. One dry you will have stamps or stickers the child can use by moistening with a dab of water.
Floating Art
Your toddler can create some very pretty and novel pictures using this technique.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
What you need:
Shallow baking pan
Water
Colored sidewalk chalk
Cupcake liners or other small containers
Construction paper
1. Fill the pan with water.
2. Help your child grate the chalk into powder. Place powder into the cupcake liners.
3. Help your child sprinkle the powder onto the water, letting her choose the colors, amounts, and patterns.
4. Have her spread a sheet of paper on top of the water to absorb the chalk design.
5. Hang the wet picture up to dry.
Spin Art
You may remember creating spin art paintings at the local amusement park when you were a child. Here is a simple homemade version to try.
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Paper plate
Salad spinner (an old record player works well, if one is available)
Markers
1. Push the paper plate onto the record player by pushing the center peg through the plate. If you are using a salad spinner, you may need to trim the disc of paper before placing it into the spinner.
2. Crank the salad spinner to make paper spin.
3. Show your child how to hold the marker to draw on the paper while it spins.
What Remains
Your child will enjoy squeezing the glue to make different patterns, and she will be amazed to see her design glitter and shine!
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
What you need:
Table salt
Glitter
Sequins or small pieces of foil (optional)
White craft glue
Construction paper or poster board
1. Mix salt and glitter in equal proportions. Add sequins if desired.
2. Help your child squeeze designs with the glue onto the paper. Swirls and squiggles look better than large puddles.
3. Show your toddler how to sprinkle the glitter mixture all of the glue design.
4. Shake the paper to adhere all loose glitter mixture possible to the wet glue. Tilt paper o discard remaining glitter mixture.
Crafts
Although crafts tend to be more structured, remember to let your child’s originality rule whenever possible. Start with the basic format but do not be afraid to let children make their own alterations and variations to the pattern. So what if they paint the sky yellow, or the puppet has three eyes.
Sun Catchers
Here is a simple craft piece that your child will enjoy making and that you will enjoy displaying.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Hole punch
Clear plastic lid, as from a deli container from the grocery store
String
Colored tissue paper or cellophane
Scissors
White craft glue
1. Punch a hole in the lid and attach string for the hanger.
2. Your toddler can help tear tissue paper into scraps The cellophane will need to be cut.
3. Have your toddler glue the scraps onto one side of the lid.
4. When the lid is dry, hand in a sunny window.
Shrinky Things
You me remember the commercial version of this craft from when you were a child Now ou can make they at home in a flash!
Activity for an individual child.
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
What you need:
Scissors
Thin sheets of Styrofoam (such as the butcher trays that come with hamburger or other meats washed well)
Hole punch
Markers
String
1. Cut the Styrofoam into desired shapes. Punch a hole at the top if you wish to hang the finished product.
2. Help your toddler decorate the shapes with the markers.
3. Microwave the creations for just a few seconds, and you will see them shrink!
4. Thread string through the hold if you wish to hang the finished project.
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