It’s no secret that kids love to have fun with paint — be it finger painting or using brushes, you’d be hard pressed to find a child who didn’t think that spreading around color (on any surface) was a rockin’ good time. The trick is to keep them focused and the paint on the project. That being said, we’ve got a few low-impact and fun paint projects here for your family’s enjoyment. Bonus? These will make great name tags or placemats for that upcoming holiday meal!
Found Object Painting
Fall is a great time of year for this paint activity. Pumpkins, gourds, and leaves are numerous, and little ones LOVE using them as a canvas. Go on a walk, find some little treasures, and paint them. So simple!
Pom Pom Painting
Little fingers can practice their fine motor skills and creativity while dipping pom poms in paint and then “stamping” them on paper. Or combine this project with the found objects for another level of fun. My girls could do this for hours.
Faux Prints (inspired by The Artful Parent)
Smear a thin layer of paint onto waxed paper (you can use a paintbrush, kid’s hands, or a roller (as originally suggested). Then, using q-tips, fingers, or other various small tools, create an image in the paint by wiping it away from the surface of the waxed paper. Gently press a clean sheet of paper to the waxed paper, and—voila—you have a “print” of your image. Let the kids practice mirror imaging (particularly letters and words) or talk about how colors mix and images reverse during the process.
