Art Activities
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Washable paints are best to use for these projects
• Use aluminum foil to paint on instead of paper.
• Tape a piece of clear contact paper to a wall with the sticky side out. Have
a variety of materials such as pieces of tissue paper, magazine pictures, shapes
from construction paper and other collage materials. Let the child stick these
things to the contact paper to create art.
• Place a piece of paper in a 13 x 9 cake pan. Drop a small ball (ping pong
or golf) or marble into paint. Then drop the ball into the pan and let the child roll
the ball around to make a design on the paper. You can use it for wrapping
paper.
• Use rubber bands to secure pieces of cut foam, bubble wrap, or packing
peanuts to a rolling pin. Roll the into paint and roll onto the paper.
• Mix small amounts of salt, cornstarch, flour, rock salt, sand, etc. into paint
for a variety of effects.
• Tint water with food coloring and freeze in an ice cube tray. Cover the tray
with foil and stick a craft stick through the foil into each section and freeze.
When frozen, paint with the tinted ice sticks.
• Add things like vanilla, cocoa powder, lemon juice or small amounts of
essential oils to scent the paint.
• Dabbers
Use small scraps of muslin or other material to cover a piece of
sponge, wrap the end and tie with a rubber band. Children can dip the
dabber into paint and create dab art.
• Coffee Can Painting
Using an empty coffee can, secure the edge, cut a piece of paper to fit inside.
Dip materials (balls, sponge pieces, blocks, etc. Use only choke-proof items for
small children) into paint, put into the can. Put the lid on and shake it up.
• Bubble Wrap
Unroll bubble wrap, squirt baby lotion into the wrap and let the child squish, rub,
and smooth the lotion. This is a great sensory activity.
You can also let them rub paint on with their fingers and then flip the
bubble wrap over onto a piece of paper to make a one of a kind work of
art!
School Age Art Ideas
• Pocket Pals
Take your old jean pockets off a pair of jeans and glue a piece of felt on the back
(the same size as the pocket) then let your child paint it with fabric paints and
puffy paint, then put a piece of magnet strip on the back and put on your fridge!!
Enjoy! Great to hold mail, pencils, and little notes.
• Travel Books
Use a small photo album to create an ideal ABC book for your child. You can
purchase or make your own flash cards (ABC, 123, colors, shapes, etc.) that
insert into the album (4x6). This makes an ideal travel companion. The pages
wipe clean and can be interchange to reflect your child's ability. Older kids who
are learning to write can use a wet-wipe maker to trace over letters for practice.
• Wall Paper & Paint Mosaic
Tape a large piece of paper to the wall or floor with masking tape. Fill a cookie
sheet with paint. Try to use a variety of colors. It makes the activity a lot more
fun! Pour each color into a separate cookie sheet. Tear up a variety of colors of
construction paper and wallpaper. Have each child take a piece of torn paper and
dip it in the paint. Then stick it on the butcher paper and pull it off. It will make a
print on the paper. Have each child repeat the steps until the whole paper is
covered. When it's dry hang it on a wall.
• Salad Spinner Art
Cut paper to fit the inside of a salad spinner. Squeeze various colors of paint
into the container and let the children spin it.
• Screen Splatter Painting
Put screen pieces over a piece of paper, dip brushes(nail scrub, tooth, etc.) into
paint and brush or dab it over the screen. When done remove the screen to see
the results.
• Sand Art
Create a work of art to remind you of sunny summer beach days! This is a
simple craft that is appropriate for a wide range of ages. All you need is sand,
food coloring, glue, and heavy card stock or construction paper.
Put a small amount of sand in Ziplock plastic bags. Add a few drops of different
colors of food coloring to each and shake and massage the bag until the sand is
the desired color. Transfer the sand to a paper plate so that it can dry. Now use
the glue and sand alternately to make a multi-colored picture or design. Allow to
dry and hang!
You can also create a sand greeting card by taking a 9"x12" piece of colored
construction paper, folding it in half, writing your message in the inside fold, and
then making your design on the front
For more fun art ideas go to www.kinderart.com/camp and
www.crayola.com
Adapted from A Visual and Fine Arts Program
Child Care Resource Network & The Wessel Foundation
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