Art activities encourage children to be creative and artistic and allow them to express themselves. It also boosts their problem-solving skills, motor skills, and self-esteem.
Creative arts also really come in handy when children need something to stimulate their minds.
Here are 20 art activities you can try with your toddler.
This idea from KinderArt is easy, and kids of all ages can participate. There is no right or wrong way to go about it, which makes it even more fun because you don't know what you'll find out.
What you'll need:
Paper
Crayons
Pencil crayons
Instructions:
Doodle some lines on the paper.
Use crayons to decorate the blank spaces.
Try to see if you can find any funny images from the drawings. You might even see some "monsters."
This monster sock puppet from The Parent Spot is absolutely adorable. It's fun to make, and the kids will love the results even more.
What you'll need:
Googly eyes
Felt
Cardboard
Glue sticks and a hot glue gun
One pair of fuzzy socks
Pom pom balls
Scissors
Instructions:
Cut cardboard that can fit in the sock that you'll use for the mouth.
Trace a circle twice on the felt, cut it out, and glue the circles to both sides of the cardboard.
Cut the toe part of the sock, roll its edges, and then hot glue it to add the mouth.
Hot glue your googly eyes to the pom pom balls and glue them above the monster's mouth.
Cut two long strips of your felt and hot glue half of it together (leaving two flaps) for back spines.
Separate the flaps and glue them to the back of the sock.
Add decorations as desired (for example, you can add a bow tie).
If the previous idea sounds a little complicated, you can try these rock monsters from Super Simple.
What you'll need:
Glue stick
Craft brush
Smooth round rocks
Q tips
Black marker
Other decoration items: feathers, poms poms, fun fur, googly eyes, felt or construction paper
Instructions:
Paint the rocks with white paint first. This will help all other colors you paint to be more visible and colorful.
Paint the rock the color you want your monster to be.
Decorate your rock by drawing or adding other decoration items.
This idea by the Artful Parent is an all-time favorite for kids of all ages. It's easy, and there is a chance you already have all the supplies.
What you'll need:
Table salt
Cardstock
Bottle of glue
Droppers or paintbrushes
Liquid watercolors
Instructions:
Use glue to create some designs on the cardstock. It can be words or drawings..
Sprinkle salt on the glue and tip off the tray or baking sheet to eliminate the excess salt.
Add some color using a dropper or paintbrush.
Allow one to two days for it to dry completely.
This is another brilliant idea by the Artful Parent. Tissue paper suncatchers combine light and color to form something beautiful.
What you'll need:
Yarn
Wax paper
Hot glue gun
Wood embroidery hoop
Mod podge or watered-down white glue
Scissors or utility knife
Glitter, googly eyes, colored feathers, and tiny beads
Instructions:
Glue your wax paper to one side of the hoop and trim off the extra wax paper.
Add some glue on the tissue hoop and add the colored tissues on top (you can arrange the tissue in color pallets or just stick them randomly.
For more décor, add colored feathers, glitter, googly eyes, etc.
Hang the suncatchers on the window and allow them to dry.
This idea from Medium is a great way for toddlers to bond with their peers or family. It's also an excellent exercise to challenge a child's creativity. It's like scribbling but with other parties involved.
What you'll need:
Pencils
Crayons
Paper
Instructions:
Start a random drawing – it could be anything, such as a spider's head, a line, etc.
Pass the drawing to the next child to add to the drawing. Just a little altercation is fine.
This back-and-forth drawing can go for as long as the children wish
Once the art is done, they can color it together and see what they come up with.
The pom pom bouquet by DIY & Crafts is a great idea for children who love flowers. This activity is a bit advanced compared to our previous suggestions, but it really improves eye and hand coordination.
What you'll need:
Scissors
Yarn (different colors)
Glue and hot glue gun
Floral wire
Instructions:
Wrap one yarn in the palm of your hand. The size of the yarn you wrap on your hand will depend on your desired flower size.
Once you’ve wrapped enough yarn, clip the end. Slide it off your hand and tie a piece of yarn around the middle.
Cut through the ends of the yarns to create small pieces of flowers.
Attach the floral wire to the flower to represent the stem.
Follow the same steps to create different pom flowers for your bouquet.
Trim any extra pieces of yarn on your flowers and display them as desired.
Paper plates are an excellent craft material; there is so much you can do with them for fun. This washi tape paper plate by Art Bar Blog is easy; children aged four and older can do it without fail.
What you'll need:
Paintbrushes
Paper plates (small square, dinner round, and dessert round)
Acrylic paint
Small scissors
Washi tape
Mod podge
Instructions:
You have two options. Carefully sort out your tape colors to create a pattern, or take random tape colors and stick them to the plate.
Cover your plate with tape and ensure you fold it to cover the back of the plate.
Turn the plate over and paint the back along with the folded tapes and allow it to dry.
Once the paint dries, use a paintbrush or mod podge to cover the back of the plate. Start with one side of the plate and allow it to dry before proceeding to the other side.
If you notice your plates are curling up when drying, place a little jar on top to flatten it.
This art by Artful Parent is beautiful and messy, which is very entertaining for children. It's also a good way to learn and experiment with colors.
What you'll need:
Droppers
Cardstock
Liquid watercolor paint/food coloring
Shaving foam
Shallow baking dish
A scrapper
Instructions:
Spray a layer of shaving cream at the bottom of your baking dish.
Add a few drops of watercolor paint or food coloring (use several colors for décor purposes).
Use a paintbrush or dropper to swirl the paint around to get the marbled effect.
Place your cardstock into the paint.
Lift your cardstock from the paint and scrape off the shaving cream (you can use a piece of cardboard).
Repeat the process with different liquid watercolor combinations.
This craft activity by Easy Peasy and Fun is excellent, especially for toddlers still learning numbers. It's also easy to make and only requires a few items.
What you'll need:
Split spins
Glue
Marker
One pom pom
Color papers (cardstock)
Two googly eyes
Instructions:
Punch ten circles using your circle puncher.
Write numbers one to ten on the circle punchers.
Use the split pins to connect the circles and secure them at the back.
Punch an extra circle to use as a caterpillar's face. Stick googly eyes on it and use the marker to draw eyes and the mouth.
Attach the head to the numbers.
Glue the pom pom on the caterpillar's head to represent hair.
This is another idea from Easy Peasy and Fun. The results are fantastic; this silly activity will keep your child busy for some time.
What you'll need:
Markers
Glue
Toilet paper rolls
Wiggly eyes stickers
Assorted paper colors
Instructions:
Start by decorating your toilet paper rolls. There is no right or wrong way of doing it. You can glue colored papers around the paper rolls and draw or paint them. Aim at using as many colors as possible to make the art colorful.
Once you're done, use scissors to create some cute designs as needed or add wiggly eye stickers.
Arrange all your paper roll monsters and take a group photo.
These little snails by the Kindergarten Nation are easy to make and enhance fine motor skills through coloring, cutting, and rolling the paper.
What you'll need:
Scissors
Markers
Snail & leaf template
Copy or construction paper
Glue sticks
Instructions:
Download and print the templates or create stencils of the leaf and snails.
Cut out the snails and leaves along the dotted lines from the drawing.
Ensure you have enough leaves – every snail should have at least one leaf.
Use markers to decorate the snails and leaves (don't curl up the snails until you're done coloring them).
Glue the bottom of the snail to the top of your decorated leaf.
This activity by Learn Play Read is easy and a good way for children to explore colors and shapes.
What you'll need:
Blocks
Canvas boards and long watercolor paper
Washable tempera paints
Paper plates
Instructions:
Squirt some paint on paper plates or something similar.
Dip the blocks into the paint and press them onto the paper. Some kids may decide to create a pattern with their blocks, while others might want to do it randomly; there’s no wrong way to do it.
Peacocks are pretty, and while it's impossible to see one every once in a while, you can make yours with these tips from Instructables.
What you'll need:
Color paper (blue, yellow, green)
Scissors
Glue
Sketch pen
Instructions:
Draw the outline of the peacock. You can download and print this template to make your work easier. Trace the peacock wings on green paper, body on blue paper, and the beak and legs on the yellow paper.
Use a black marker pen to draw scales on the peacock's wings
Cut out all the body parts and glue them together.
To make the feathers, cut 10cm of paper. Fold it alternatively to the end to get something similar to a paper fan.
Draw circles with black dots on the feathers using a black marker.
Attach the feathers to the peacock.
This idea from Arty Crafty Kids is brilliant, and the results are mind-blowing. It's also easy and a perfect way to kick boredom.
What you'll need:
PVA Glue
Button
Paint (yellow, white, and blue)
Tissue paper
Green stock card
Thick cardboard (you can cut one from an old box)
Instructions:
Cut a piece of cardboard in the shape of a pond and add blobs of yellow, blue, and white paint.
Use a spoon to blend and spread the three colors across the surface. Ensure the entire cardboard is covered with the paint.
Add lily pads to your pond using the green card stock.
Finish off by adding some tissue paper lilies.
This creative art by Cartwright is a good idea for when children want to paint but want to control the mess. It also eliminates the need for bowls, brushes, or paint pallets.
What you'll need:
Large resealable baggie
Markers
A squirt bottle of water
Blank paper
Instructions:
Draw and add designs to the resealable baggie. The idea is just to scribble and add as many blocks of colors as you can.
Use the squirt bottle to add some moisture to the bag. Do it moderately because you don't want puddles of water.
Place a blank paper in the baggie, and smooth it out to make it damp.
Gently peel the paper from the bag to reveal your art.
For days when cleaning up the mess isn't too much, this art by Buggy and Buddy is the best way to entertain your child. This art activity is exciting — you never know what the result will be, and there’s plenty of room for creativity.
What you'll need:
Popsicle sticks
Pieces of yarn
Tempera paint
Art paper
Containers
Instructions:
Pour some tempera paint into some containers. You can use any size, but bigger containers are more comfortable for small hands.
Cut your yarn into small pieces.
Dip your yarn into the paint and use a popsicle stick to squeeze it so it's fully soaked.
Place the yarn on an art paper and see the design it forms.
Repeat steps two to four with different paint colors to create a unique design. You can also drag the painted yarns on paper to see what the mixed colors will form.
This cotton swab painting idea by Projects With Kids is amazing. It saves you from the hassle of getting paintbrushes. It also introduces children to the concept of pointillism. This art is also a great way to relive a tulip festival.
What you'll need:
Q-tips
Canvas sheet or white cardstock
Paintbrushes
Water dish and paint palettes
Instructions:
Start by getting your supplies for the grass and sky. You'll also need the necessary paint colors; white, light blue, and green, and different colors for the tulips.
Use a pencil to divide the canvas into two. Paint the upper part blue for the sky and green for the lower part.
Swirl some white paint on the blue sky to represent clouds. This is best done when the blue in the sky is still wet for natural blending.
Allow the grass to dry before you start painting the tulip fields.
Once it's dry, get your tulip colors and use one q-tip for each color. Create rows of dots for every color.
We know you've heard of stick people, but have you heard of leaf people? Well, leaf people are the new stick people. My Mommy Style inspired this idea, and children of all ages can participate in it. It's also a great way to bond with your toddler away from the house and electronics.
What you'll need:
White paper
Leaves of all sizes, shapes, and colors
Googly eyes
A marker
Glue
Instructions:
Glue the leaves to make a person on your white paper. There is no right or wrong way of doing this, which really allows room for creativity.
Stick the googly eyes on the leaf person, and use a marker to draw their nose and mouth.
If you want the craft for a long time, consider laminating them as they may peel off as they dry.
Repeat the steps to make a leaf people family.
Clay lessons are amazing, and children of all ages enjoy them. There is something really therapeutic about molding clay. Deep Spaces Sparkle inspired this art, and although we will focus on kitties, you can check out instructions on how to make other animals too.
What you'll need:
Clay
Gaze
Paint (brown or golden yellow and black)
Dipping glaze
Instructions:
Start by making the pinch pot. This part is easy; just ensure the clay is soft enough for small hands to mold. Then, smoothen the wrinkles and bumps.
Pull the ears. This part can be difficult. If it's very hard, you can stick them externally. However, it's recommended to pull the ears instead because attached external parts are prone to breaking.
Make the tail. The easiest way to do this is by using the coiling method. Toddlers might need help deciding the size of the clay needed for the tail.
Paint your cat and use the back of your painted brush (dipped in black paint) to make the eyes.
Use the tiniest brush to draw the whiskers.
Apply the glaze.
This art idea by Kids Craft Room is a big hit among preschoolers. The process is messy and colorful, and eating the colorful art is the epitome of fun.
What you'll need:
White bread
Granulated sugar
Plastic bowls
Brushes
Gel food coloring
Clean water (warm)
Instructions:
Mix water, coloring, and granulated sugar. The aim is to have a thick paste, so the amount of water you'll need depends on the size of your sugar granules. Using hot water will help the sugar dissolve faster. Ensure the paste is thick; otherwise, it will make your bread soggy.
If the sugar isn't dissolving, it means the sugar has reached its saturation point. Add more water, and if it's too runny, add more sugar.
Make a paste of different colors and apply them to the bread.
Children enjoy this craft by Crafty Morning mainly because it involves getting their small hands dirty and creating a mess.
What you'll need:
Paintbrush
Green and black paint
Pencil
Black marker/white marker
Glue
Shaving cream
Instructions:
Use a pencil to draw a Frankenstein face shape on your white paper. You can also download a Frankenstein template and print it.
Mix the glue and the shaving cream to form a thick paste.
Divide this paste into two bowls.
Add green paint to one bowl and black paint to the other bowl.
Use green paint for the face and leave enough room for the hair.
Use black paint for the hair.
Cut out two white ovals for the eyes and color the pupils black using a black sharpie.
This art activity by Gift of Curiosity is terrific for kids who just started using scissors. It's better to choose what to cut for them instead of waking up to your favorite novel in pieces.
What you'll need:
Paint
White paper
Kid-friendly scissors
Construction paper
Glue
Instructions:
Use paint to add color to a sheet of paper and draw stripes of your choice. Use different colors to make them colorful. There are no rules on the kind of stripes, so it enhances creativity.
Allow the paint to dry.
Cut the painted strips. You can use scrapbook-shaped scissors to make fancy edges.
Lay the strips on construction paper to create a background.
Decide on the background and spacing, then glue the strips on the construction paper.
Simple arts for children
The best time to experiment with children is in kindergarten. At this stage, they're curious, buzzing with creativity, and open to experimenting with new ideas. It's, therefore, fun to have a weekly activity that challenges your child to think outside the box and kill boredom.
Choose one art activity from the list and get started!
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