child finger paint on a flat surface.
Press the white construction paper on top of the finger paint and rub—a mirror image of the design will transfer to the paper.
Mirror-Image Painting
No two pictures will ever be exactly alike!
Watch your child’s delight when he opens up the paper to reveal the new design.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
White or light-colored bond paper
Tempera paints
Fold a sheet of paper in half and crease down the middle. Unfold paper.
Let your child paint a design on one half of the paper, using the crease as a guide.
Fold the paper in half and show your child how to gently rub over the painted design inside.
Let your child unfold the paper to reveal his new double design.
Ball Painting
It’s like magic—when you open the box, you’ll find a picture painted inside!
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Scissors
White or light-colored bond paper
Shoebox with a lid
Masking tape
Tempera paints
Shallow pie tins
Ping-pong or golf balls
Cut a piece of paper to fit the bottom of the box. Tape it securely in place.
Pour small amounts of paint into the pie tins. Show your toddler how to dip a ball into the paint.
Have him place the paint-covered ball into the shoebox. Cover the box with the lid.
Let your child gently roll and shake the box around.
Remove the ball. Repeat with as many other balls and colors as desired.
Sculpting
The more your child can handle and manipulate materials, the more she will enjoy the project, and the more she will learn. Sculpture encourages your child to be creative, to see things in a new way, and to think “outside the box.” Let these activities start you off in exploring this art technique with your child.
Yarn Sculpture
Your child will love the ooey-gooey feel of the glue and the yarn as she molds this fun sculpture.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 2 hours
Yarn or cord in bright colors
White craft glue
Waxed paper
Have your child dip pieces of yarn in the glue to coat.
Let your child arrange the yarn pieces onto the waxed paper in any design she wants.
Allow the sculpture to dry for a few hours, and then remove it from the waxed paper. You may choose to hang it as a mobile for display.
Three-Dimensional Sculpture
This project will turn your toddler into a mini-architect!
She will use her problem-solving skills and creativity to make a 3D sculpture.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
White craft glue
Masking tape
Popsicle sticks
Cardboard or poster board in various sizes and shapes
Decorative materials such as foil or ribbon
Allow your child to glue and tape the materials together to create her own 3D sculpture.
Tissue-Paper Sculpture
Your child will be developing fine motor skills and using her creativity with this activity.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Colored tissue paper
Small bowl
White craft glue
Water
Cardboard
Have your child tear the tissue paper into small pieces. They do not have to be uniform in size.
In a small bowl, mix the glue and water in equal parts.
Show your child how to crumple up the tissue paper into wads. Dip each wad in the glue mixture and stick onto the cardboard.
Your child can add tissue wads onto a growing sculpture mound in this fashion.
Papier Mâché
Papier Mâché is fun for all ages. Your young child will love the feel of the squishy paste. The best part is that the only limit to your creativity is your imagination. Be warned: This is a messy project!
Activity for an individual child or a group
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 2 days
Old newspapers
1 part flour
1 part water
Mold or form (made from materials like wire, boxes, or balloons)
Decorating materials
Have your child tear the
Press the white construction paper on top of the finger paint and rub—a mirror image of the design will transfer to the paper.
Mirror-Image Painting
No two pictures will ever be exactly alike!
Watch your child’s delight when he opens up the paper to reveal the new design.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
White or light-colored bond paper
Tempera paints
Fold a sheet of paper in half and crease down the middle. Unfold paper.
Let your child paint a design on one half of the paper, using the crease as a guide.
Fold the paper in half and show your child how to gently rub over the painted design inside.
Let your child unfold the paper to reveal his new double design.
Ball Painting
It’s like magic—when you open the box, you’ll find a picture painted inside!
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Scissors
White or light-colored bond paper
Shoebox with a lid
Masking tape
Tempera paints
Shallow pie tins
Ping-pong or golf balls
Cut a piece of paper to fit the bottom of the box. Tape it securely in place.
Pour small amounts of paint into the pie tins. Show your toddler how to dip a ball into the paint.
Have him place the paint-covered ball into the shoebox. Cover the box with the lid.
Let your child gently roll and shake the box around.
Remove the ball. Repeat with as many other balls and colors as desired.
Sculpting
The more your child can handle and manipulate materials, the more she will enjoy the project, and the more she will learn. Sculpture encourages your child to be creative, to see things in a new way, and to think “outside the box.” Let these activities start you off in exploring this art technique with your child.
Yarn Sculpture
Your child will love the ooey-gooey feel of the glue and the yarn as she molds this fun sculpture.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 2 hours
Yarn or cord in bright colors
White craft glue
Waxed paper
Have your child dip pieces of yarn in the glue to coat.
Let your child arrange the yarn pieces onto the waxed paper in any design she wants.
Allow the sculpture to dry for a few hours, and then remove it from the waxed paper. You may choose to hang it as a mobile for display.
Three-Dimensional Sculpture
This project will turn your toddler into a mini-architect!
She will use her problem-solving skills and creativity to make a 3D sculpture.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
White craft glue
Masking tape
Popsicle sticks
Cardboard or poster board in various sizes and shapes
Decorative materials such as foil or ribbon
Allow your child to glue and tape the materials together to create her own 3D sculpture.
Tissue-Paper Sculpture
Your child will be developing fine motor skills and using her creativity with this activity.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Colored tissue paper
Small bowl
White craft glue
Water
Cardboard
Have your child tear the tissue paper into small pieces. They do not have to be uniform in size.
In a small bowl, mix the glue and water in equal parts.
Show your child how to crumple up the tissue paper into wads. Dip each wad in the glue mixture and stick onto the cardboard.
Your child can add tissue wads onto a growing sculpture mound in this fashion.
Papier Mâché
Papier Mâché is fun for all ages. Your young child will love the feel of the squishy paste. The best part is that the only limit to your creativity is your imagination. Be warned: This is a messy project!
Activity for an individual child or a group
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 2 days
Old newspapers
1 part flour
1 part water
Mold or form (made from materials like wire, boxes, or balloons)
Decorating materials
Have your child tear the
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