Being creative is undoubtedly one of the most important skills we should instill in our children. It is considered a vital 21st-century skill. Being creativity enables problem-solving, brainstorming, planning, and designing. Engaging in enjoyable easy kids friendly painting activities can actually enhance children’s intelligence! Developing visual aesthetics is particularly significant in a highly digital society. This year, I presented at an education conference in Poland on the importance of nurturing creative children for the 21st century. I am thrilled to share some of those concepts through painting activities I conduct in my paint classes. Along with two other online art museum resources like PBS, and The Tate online museum that has many painting resources.
Before we jump into these easy kids painting activities I want to share some very important reasons you should be doing arts on a regular basis at home or teaching in your classroom.
Benefits Painting Lessons:
Regular painting lessons offer support in various ways, such as academic enhancement, cognitive development, cultural awareness, encouraging inventive thinking, fostering spatial awareness, sensory tactile learning, language development, and fine motor skill refinement, here’s how:
Cognitive Development:
Recent scientific research has shown that early motor movement plays a vital role in enhancing brain intelligence and academic performance in later grades. Starting from infancy, engaging in motor activities can significantly influence cognitive development and preparedness for learning. Studies suggest that a child’s genetic makeup and early experiences can predict their future cognitive abilities. Research conducted in the United Kingdom highlights the relationship between achieving typical motor milestones and cognitive development upon entering primary school.
Encouraging Inventive Thinking:
Understanding the importance of integrating visual arts into the classroom is crucial in today’s educational landscape, especially with the emphasis on STEAM programming. The “A” in STEAM signifies arts, showcasing the increasing recognition of arts within this educational movement across all grade levels. This approach, combining science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through project-based learning, not only prepares children for future jobs but also nurtures their creative problem-solving skills.
Fine Motor Skill Refinement:
Insufficient opportunities for gross and fine motor activities can hinder young students’ physical readiness for independence as they progress to primary grades. Alongside factors like nutrition, emotional well-being, and social support, engaging in gross-to-fine motor movements is associated with stimulating advanced cognitive processes.
Language Development:
Engaging in art-making activities encourages children to learn the language of artists, encompassing the Elements and Principles of Design. Discussions about art stimulate children’s imagination and creativity. The vocabulary of art provides children with the tools to articulate and express their ideas about art, supporting their language development by nurturing their ability to communicate effectively and fostering connections between visual and verbal expression.
Sensory Tactile Learning:
Tactile art making stimulates learning in different ways than visual or audio learning. For a developing child, tactile exploring can also lead to better fine motor function and control. Tactile learning is recommended for highly active children or kinesthetic learning styles. These types of children learn better by physical action and tactile sensations. Visually impaired children greatly benefit from tactile learning sensations. A child’s manipulations or artwork are their understanding from tactile experiences.
Fine Motor Skill
Increasingly over the years, preschoolers through kindergarten are coming to my classes with little to no finger or hand strength capabilities. It’s important to understand that fine motor development plays a huge role in a child’s daily life as they grow and go to school. Having the strength to press, push, pull, or squeeze helps kids learn to dress themselves, tie their own shoes, eat without assistance, play outdoors safely, hold a pencil to write, or doodle with crayons. Fine motor development aids healthy cognitive processing at early ages.
Cultural Awareness in Art:
Engaging in the creation and study of visual arts aids children in comprehending social, historical, and cultural contexts. It serves as a valuable avenue to establish connections with various nations by exploring their artistic heritage and renowned contributions. Through art, children are exposed to diverse forms of artistic expression that convey emotions and concepts unique to different cultures. This exposure provides insights into values, beliefs, and traditions, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of global culture and fostering cultural empathy and understanding.
FUN AND EASY PAINTING IDEAS
Are you ready to inspire creativity with your kids? Explore 30 super cool painting ideas crafted for kids. These concepts are vibrant, colorful, and engaging, providing an excellent way to enjoy school holidays or rainy days. If you’re eager to paint with your kids, here are some fun painting ideas that my students adore! These activities are lively, colorful, and entertaining, making them a fantastic choice for school holidays or rainy days.
Painting Teaching Resources
I have a plethora of easy and process-based painting ideas tailored for kids. If you work with early childhood children, explore these engaging painting page ideas. For those working with elementary-aged children, discover a range of exciting painting page ideas here: ecokidsart.com and montessori-art.com Art teachers can find valuable painting art curriculum here. With experience teaching thousands of children of all ages how to paint, I have a wealth of art ideas to share with you blogs. Check out my art teaching books and curriculum here
Painting Techniques
Paint Rolling Fun with Textured Marks
Experience the joy of creating textured marks with tempera paint using paint rollers. This activity is simple to set up—all you need are paint, rollers, and a large paper or canvas. Opt for paint rollers that produce engaging textures, which can be easily found at a hardware store. All ages love love this activity!
Spray Bottle Painting
I introduced this activity many years ago in my art camps. It has been a hit with kids ever since. “action painting,” the beauty lies in how colors fluidly move and transform with each spray. I purchased the spray bottles at Walmart and filled them with very liquid watercolor paint. It’s crucial to use only thin paint to prevent clogging the bottle. To contain the excitement, I place a shower curtain behind to collect and protect the wooden floor. This activity is incredibly enjoyable, and kids will be reluctant to stop. Opt for watercolor or thick paper to prevent tearing as the colors blend and flow effortlessly.
Rock Painting
Rock painting is a timeless classic that I am renowned for in my area. Setting this activity up is simple—all you need are rocks you’ve found or purchased from a garden store. Ensure to use acrylic or craft paint for the best results. For more detailed setup instructions and inspiration, delve into my rock painting blogs. Let’s turn ordinary rocks into works of art! Read Rock Painting Blog
Dot Paint Stampers
My early childhood students adore using dot stampers—a favorite for all ages. These stampers are easy to use, minimize mess, and come in a variety of colors. Children simply dot and create designs with ease. It’s a fun and engaging activity that sparks creativity. Order your set of dot stampers today and let the artistic fun begin!
Masking Tape Design Painting
Create stunning paint projects on paper or canvas with masking tape and various paint colors—it’s that simple. Discover more about teaching children art by delving into my books for valuable insights on art education and fostering creativity. Let’s explore the world of art together!
Crayon Wax Resist
This is a fun painting project using crayons and watercolor paints. The fun begins when you paint over the crayon drawings with watercolor. Kids will be able to witness how the wax resists the paint, creating cool textures. Children are sure to enjoy the process and the unique results it produces. Check out my blog for detailed setup instructions and materials needed to get started on this exciting art activity. Let’s explore the world of color and texture together! This project below is creating the Northern Lights with Wax Resist.
Painting With Bubble Wrap & Stamps
Let’s get creative with painting using bubble wrap to create fun textures and backgrounds, similar to the captivating water texture depicted below. Simply paint over the bubble wrap and press it onto paper to witness the magic unfold. For detailed instructions on setting up and creating these artistic wonders, check out my blog. The fish image showcased was created using homemade stamp shapes. Dive into the world of stamp-making and unleash your artistic flair!
Recycle Painting On Boxes
Engage in a classic project perfect for Earth Day by painting on boxes—a creative endeavor I cherish doing with my students. Transforming large TV boxes into intriguing painting surfaces opens up a world of possibilities for artistic expression. To make the experience more exciting for children, consider hot-gluing fun objects like egg cartons, CDs, boxes, and cups onto the boxes to add depth and interest to their creations. Delve into my setup tips for this project and unleash your imagination on these unique painting surfaces! Let’s turn ordinary boxes into extraordinary works of art. Earth Day Painting Projects
Online Video Paint Camp
Join my online art classes and camps focused on paint projects for kids. This immersive experience includes art kits and video demonstrations. Showing you how to explore a variety of painting techniques with your little ones. I share my painting tricks and tips, making it a fun and educational experience for both you and your children. Sign up now for a colorful and engaging online painting class adventure! Early Childhood online camps with art kits Elementary Online Painting Class
Painting Flowers
Create stunning floral art by making flower impressions with real flowers and paint—a simple yet beautiful project that encourages kids to explore nature and their creativity. This easy activity involves making paint impressions of flowers on paper using craft paint. While it may take a few tries to master the technique, once you and your students get the hang of it, you’ll be able to produce lovely prints to cherish and share. Let’s venture outdoors, gather some flowers, and embark on a colorful journey of creating delightful flower impressions together!
Exploring Primary Colors in Painting
Engage in painting by starting with the three primary colors. Teaching the mixing of primary hues can lay a strong foundation for understanding secondary colors and color theory. Discover the joy of color exploration and learning through the vibrant world of primary colors! Check out my color mixing curriculum for a wealth of colorful inspiration.
Paint & Collage Paper Like Eric Carle
Inspire creativity in kids and teachers by teaching them how to paint papers and create collages like the beloved children’s book illustrator, Eric Carle, known for his work in “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Use bubble wrap, sponge painting, and stamps to achieve various textures and effects. Discover more about the setup and materials needed for this engaging activity on my blog. Let’s paint, collage, and bring stories to life in the vibrant style of Eric Carle together!
Splatter Action Painting
Experience the joy children get from the freedom to splatter paint across paper or canvas. A classic painting technique inspired by Jackson Pollock’s method of splattering and flinging paint. Encourage creativity by exploring various types of paints and paint brushes to create unique textures and patterns. In the example provided, acrylic paint on the left and watercolor on the right showcase the dynamic results.
Sumi-e Painting
Sumi-e ink painting is perfect for children. And its easy to learn because of its simplistic pictorial nature type of imagery. The subject matter is usually natural landscapes or creatures. The focus is line brushstrokes with minimal detail, no texture, or blending. What I like most about practicing Chinese brushstrokes is there’s no correction. Read more about sumi-e painting here
Tate Kids Paint Ideas
While visiting the Tate in London is a delightful experience, also exploring the Tate Kids online section opens up a world of possibilities. The Tate Kids museum offers a plethora of engaging ideas and activities for children to dive into the realm of art. Drawing inspiration from their pages can spark innovative teaching ideas for your classes. Discover amazing artists and art activities that ignite imagination and creativity. Another fun feature is the interactive drawing tool that allows kids to create art right from their computer—an engaging resource for both students and art teachers alike. Unleash your creativity and explore the fascinating world of art with Tate Kids! Tate Kids Page Here
Great for Kids Visiting
During my visit to the Tate Museum, I explored the children’s areas and discovered a variety of fun spaces where kids can enjoy hands-on activities. From the engaging Tate Draw Zone exhibit to several reading spots filled with books and fun activities for children to create, the museum offers a fantastic experience for families. Additionally, the gift shop is stocked with plenty of children’s art toys. If you’re in London, visiting the Tate Museum is a must for the whole family!
Make Street Art
This Tate Kids activity is fun. You can make street art with paintbrushes and rollers. You can even choose the colors you like. This is fun for practicing making lines if you don’t actually have any drawing mediums. Check out this TATE KIDS PAGE HERE
Paint like VAN GOGH
The TATE KIDS also has a fun page baout learning about Van Gogh. Teaching about one of the most famous impressioest painters of our time. Check out these activities here: From sunflowers to self-portraits, learn how to make art like the Dutch painter
MEET MATISSE
Dive into the world of Henri Matisse and his iconic cut-outs by watching Tate Kids as they explore his artistic realm. This inspiring video is available for viewing on the Kids Tate Online site, offering a captivating glimpse into Matisse’s creative process and artworks. Immerse yourself in the brilliance of Matisse’s artistry and embark on a journey of imagination and color through this engaging exploration.
“Here, Matisse has created lots of shapes that look similar to each other, but each one is a unique leaf. You can see how he has repeated these similar shapes, almost filling the entire picture with leaves.”
PBS KIDS paint
PBS online has so many fun art projects you can learn to do with your children or classroom. When my children were young his is all they watched every day. So I was deligted to see all the new activites paint ideas they now offer for familes. I found some very fun ideas which I will list belew and link the pages for you to check out
Painting With Nature – PBS
Painting With Glue & Salt – PBS
Interactive Paint Game
Experience the excitement of an interactive rock drawing game where you can click to count rocks and place them wherever you desire. This engaging activity not only offers a unique way to create art but also serves as a fun method to practice counting using colorful rocks. Dive into this creative adventure and unleash your artistic side while enjoying the educational aspect of counting with rocks. Give it a try and let your imagination run wild! Try it out! PBS
I’m glad you enjoyed the painting projects from your art classes and the fun online resources from Tate Kids and PBS Kids. If you’re interested in learning more about teaching kids painting, consider joining my newsletter or downloading some of these art resources for further inspiration. Let’s continue to nurture creativity and artistic exploration in young minds!
Art Trainer & Author – Spramani Elaun
Painting Guide for Teachers and Parents
Discover a straightforward guide tailored for teachers and parents to kickstart painting lessons with ease. This book equips you with essential knowledge on the required materials, the best paints suited for kids, fundamental painting techniques, and my top tips for creating an exciting painting exploration experience for your students. Get ready to ignite a passion for art in your students as you embark on this colorful journey of creativity and learning. Unleash the joy of painting and inspire young minds to express themselves through art!
Order Painting Art Album of Painting Ideas
Teaching Painting to Children: An Essential Art Album
This art album provides comprehensive guidance on teaching painting to children, offering insights into the most suitable paints for various projects. It encompasses essential information about the basic painting materials and tools required, along with key lessons and principles to start with. The album elaborates on seven key lessons in detail, featuring beautiful pictures of painting lesson ideas and examples of different techniques to effectively teach students.
Painting Brushstroke Curriculum
57 sequential, step-by-step art lessons designed to be easily followed in scope and sequence. Save valuable time with pre-prepared lessons that can be effortlessly scheduled on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.
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