Toddlers love to explore, they are inquisitive and full of energy. Directing that energy into a creative direction is easy when age appropriate art activities for toddlers are offered in a comfortable and fun way.
Keeping toddlers entertained and safe can be a challenge, but art activities are a really super way for the young kids to do this while expressing themselves in a positive manner. Every child is an artist and should be made to believe he or she has artistic talent no matter the age, creativity is a form of self expression and should be promoted and nurtured.
Here you will find fun art activities for kids especially geared toward the toddler age child.
Art Activity for Toddlers #1: Wallpaper Collage
Young children love color and a pattern, so asking a wallpaper store or large home improvement store for any unwanted wallpaper books makes for a great resource. Cut out squares, circles or any type of shape desired from the sample wallpaper and let your toddler glue the wallpaper pieces on a construction paper or tag board. The wallpaper pieces typically make for a really interesting and exciting collage that can be displayed, plus little children love seeing their artwork hung. If it is a piece of artwork that you want to last for an extended period of time, make sure to go over the collage with Mod Podge.
Art Activity for Toddlers #2: Paper Chain
This art activity for kids is really simple but kids absolutely love it. Cut approximately 5 inch strips of construction paper about 1 ½ inches wide and have your toddler help glue the first construction strip in a circle and the subsequent strips of paper are looped into the next circle and glued. Toddlers get so excited when they see the paper chain growing and getting longer, plus paper chains look really festive hanging from the ceiling or doorway.
Art Activity for Toddlers #3: Alphabet Crackers
This activity for toddlers is not only art related but it also makes a great snack, so it performs multiple purposes. Help your toddler make simple words by finding the appropriate letters to spell out the word intended, place a little peanut butter, honey or jelly on a paper and allow your toddler to press the letters into the sticky source. Meanwhile, if your child places a few alphabet crackers in his or her mouth along the way, snack time is also taken care of.
Art Activity for Toddlers #4: Paper Plate Painting
This painting art activity is easy to manage because the paper plate keeps the watercolor painting in a fairly contained space. Let your toddler express their painting freedom by using watercolors on a paper plate, kids thoroughly love to paint and the paper plate helps to keep the watercolor from going every where.
Art Activity for Toddlers #5: Circle Dot Sticker Fun
Purchase the colorful circle dot stickers at any large discount store or home improvement store and allow your toddler to place the sticker dots on a large sheet of construction paper. The little children love stickers and the circle dots make it easy for little hands to pick up and stick on paper. Kids do not want to stop this fun and easy art activity.
Art activities for toddlers do not have to be complicated or require a lot of materials, from my experience as a preschool teacher I have found the simplest art activities for kids tend to be the ones that required very little planning and resources. Most of the times, there are items around the home that make excellent art activities for toddlers, a little creativity and thought process can make for outstanding art activities for kids.
Read more from Michelle M. Guilbeau-Sheppard:
Kids love to paint!
Creating Crafts in the Kitchen with Kids
Nature Crafts for Kids
Sources:
Self-experiences
http://www.modernmom.com/article-3922-art-activities-for-toddlers/
http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/miscellaneous/723-art-activities-for-toddlers.html
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-age/toddler-crafts/
