Four Fun Art Projects Your Toddler will Love!
Oh, how toddlers love art! They love making messes. They love being creative and seeing their efforts turn into colorful masterpieces that are proudly displayed on the fridge. There are so many fun ways to introduce art to your toddler. Below are some unique ideas of how your toddler can use common art supplies in unusual and exciting ways. And let's not forget about you! Your participation in your child's artistic play will build your youngster's self esteem and will help your little "Picasso" shine.
The Two Faced Man
With just a chalk board and some chalk you and your child can work wonders. Of if you have a kid's art desk with built in chalk board even better. You'll create a "two faced" man and have lots of fun giggles along the way. Draw a circle on the chalk board. Your child will draw on the left and you draw on the right. Each of you gets to create one half of a man, woman or alien's face. Draw completely different hair, eyes, eyebrows, lips, ears or tentacles on your side of the head (circle). Then when you're done, step back and look at your hilarious looking character.
Circles of Fun
Spend a few minutes going around the house with your toddler to find objects you can trace to create circles of all sizes, such as quarters, cups, small plates, jar tops, cans etc... Once you have a "circle" collection that you're happy with it's time to get your paper, pencil and crayons. If you have a drawing desk with paper roll that would be ideal or a pad of paper would work as well. Let your toddler pick one of the "circle" objects, place it on the paper, and trace around the bottom. Then select another object and slightly overlap the first circle and trace that circle. Then have your child go wild with circles all over the paper, overlapping several of them. Once the circles have been drawn it's time to color. Have your child color individual sections different colors. If a circle has an overlapping segment, have your child color that slice a different color than the bigger circle area. When the coloring is complete you'll be amazed at the beautiful design your child has created. You might want to make your own circle design to join in the fun.
Nature Art
This project is double the fun because it starts with an outside treasure hunt and ends with a wild painting adventure. Grab a box or bucket and head outside. Encourage your child to find some sticks, leaves, pinecones, blades of grass, odd shaped weeds, rocks and other nature items that will create an interesting effect when dipped in paint and dabbed onto paper. Bring the nature items inside and place them near your child's art easel. Put puddles of different colored paints onto paper plates and get your child dolled up in a smock. Then let your youngster loose! Have him dip a nature item of choice into paint and dab it against the canvas. Talk about the cool paint effects created from each outside treasure. Let him go wild and create a beautiful environmentally-inspired piece of art.
Talk Art with your Toddler
To figure out other fun art projects for your toddler, why not ask him? After you introduce him to some creative ideas he's bound to have many of his own. You might want to consider conversing with your youngster and jotting down some of his clever suggestions to keep tucked away until a rainy day. Then when he says, "I'm Bored!" you can pull out the list and try some fun toddler inspired art projects to add a splash of color to your day!
Recommended Products
Alex Toys My Art Desk | Adjustable Drawing Desk with Paper Roll & Dry Erase Markerboard by Beka |
Deluxe Standing Easel by Melissa & Doug |
