Doing arts and crafts with younger children is one of the simplest ways to fill an afternoon — and it’s brilliant for their development too. Along the way, toddlers are building pencil grip, fine motor skills, colour and shape recognition, and a real sense of pride in what they’ve made. Yes, it can get messy, but the payoff is well worth it.
For inspiration, here are 12 super simple art projects for toddlers and preschoolers to try at home.
#1. Rolling Pin, Toy Trucks, Blocks & Balls
This idea from Casa Maria’s Creative Learning is a lovely one to start with. Using a large sheet of paper, get your toddler to dollop on some paint and use a rolling pin to mix the colours together and create a masterpiece.
You can use just about anything to create different effects — the wheels from toy trucks, building blocks, marbles, old tennis balls, or a stamper made from a halved potato.
Image from Casa Maria’s Creative Learning
#2. Self Portrait
Trace around your toddler, including the outline of their clothes, and let them loose creating their self-portrait. Rolls of easel paper work well for this, but old wallpaper rolls or chalk on the pavement on a sunny day do the job just as well.
Another fun variation is to get toddlers to draw or paint a portrait of each other — the results can be brilliantly unpredictable! Repeat the activity every six months and you’ll have a lovely record of how much they’ve grown.
Image from Mommy Labs
#3. Fingerprinted Season Keepsake
This one looks wonderfully effective and makes a real keepsake — check out this version from Heart of Deborah.
For younger children, prepare the canvas in advance by getting them to help paint the background colour, then add the tree outline yourself. Once it’s dry, they can work their magic with fingerprints for the leaves.
Image from Rhythms of Play
You might also like: 8 Awesome Art Projects for Kids You Will Treasure
#4. Bottle Top Art
This colourful project from A Little Pinch of Perfect uses bottle tops as simple, ready-made stampers. The effect is much more striking than you’d expect from something so easy to set up.
Image via A Little Pinch of Perfect
You might also like: 16 Easy Craft Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers
#5. Bath Paints
Want to make bath time fun? This one isn’t for the faint-hearted — it will get messy — but it’s easy to clean up afterwards and the kids will have a ball.
Messy Little Monster shares how to make your own bath paints using shaving foam and gel food colouring. Have a look at how their young artist got on!
Image from Messy Little Monster
You might also like: 22 Easy Painting Ideas for Kids
#6. Mess-Free Finger Painting
This mess-free finger painting idea from Learning and Exploring Through Play is a real win.
Pop paper and dollops of paint into a ziplock bag, seal it, and let your child squish and swirl the paint with their fingers from the outside. You get all the fun of finger painting with none of the clean-up.
Image from Learning and Exploring Through Play
#7. Butterfly Painting
These pretty butterfly paintings couldn’t be simpler. Fold a piece of paper in half and let your child paint or colour on one half only. While it’s still wet, fold the clean half over onto the painted half, press down firmly, then open it up to reveal a mirrored butterfly pattern.
A tip: squeezy paint bottles work best here, and it’s worth skipping added water, as this can make the image run too much.
Image from Teach Preschool
#8. Marbleised Paper
This striking project comes from Tinkerlab. You’ll need droppers, some oil, and liquid watercolours or food colouring to create a marbled effect on paper.
The results are genuinely impressive, and it’s a project the whole family can enjoy together.
Image from Tinkerlab
You might also like: 50 Brilliant Art & Craft Ideas for Kids
#9. Outline Painting
This idea from Art Projects for Kids takes the pressure off little artists. Get your toddler to paint a light background colour first, then draw on an outline of an animal or shape for them.
Once the outline is in place, hand over some coloured crayons and let your toddler fill it in however they like.
Image and seahorse outline from Art Projects for Kids
#10. Footprint Rainbow Butterfly
Capturing little feet is always precious, and this footprint butterfly is a gorgeous way to do it. It’s worth making a couple of extra prints too — they make lovely gifts for grandparents. Toddlers tend to love having their feet painted in a rainbow of colours, so this one usually goes down a treat.
Image from Messy Little Monster
You might also like: 28 Wonderful Rainbow Inspired Activities for Kids
#11. Blow Painting
Use a thicker paper for this one, as the page can get quite wet. Let your child drop a blob of paint onto the page, then give them a straw to blow it across in different directions.
Supervise younger children closely for this one — make sure the straw doesn’t touch the paint, and that they’re blowing out rather than sucking in.
You might also like: 10 No Glue Crafts for Preschoolers
#12. Watch It Appear
This one’s a classic. You’ll need a white crayon or a light-coloured wax candle and some paint.
Let your toddler use the candle or crayon to draw a picture on a white sheet of paper — it won’t show up yet. Then have them paint over the whole page. As the paint runs off the waxy bits, their hidden picture will magically appear. For the best effect, use a darker paint colour.
Image from TreeHouse Parents
Have you tried any of these art projects with your toddler or preschooler, or do you have a favourite of your own? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are these art projects suitable for?
Most of these ideas work well from around 18 months to 5 years, with an adult on hand to help set up and supervise. Simpler activities like rolling pin painting or footprint art suit younger toddlers, while outline painting and marbleised paper suit preschoolers with a bit more control over their hands.
How do I keep toddler art activities from being too messy?
Choose a washable surface or work outdoors where possible, pop an old shirt or art smock on your child, and keep wipes nearby. A few of the projects above — like the ziplock bag finger painting — are designed to be mess-free from the start.
What household items can I use instead of buying craft supplies?
Plenty of these projects use things you’ll already have at home: bottle tops, toy truck wheels, building blocks, a rolling pin, old paper, and a white crayon or candle stub. It’s a great way to try new activities without a special shopping trip.
How long do these activities usually take?
Most can be set up in a few minutes and enjoyed for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your toddler’s interest. Little ones often like to revisit a favourite a few times, so don’t worry if you need to pack it away and bring it back out later.
Related Articles
- 8 Awesome Art Projects for Kids You Will Treasure
- 16 Easy Craft Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- 22 Easy Painting Ideas for Kids
- 50 Brilliant Art & Craft Ideas for Kids
- 10 No Glue Crafts for Preschoolers
Save These Ideas for Later
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