You’ll love these five quick toddler art projects that take just minutes to set up.
Create squeeze bottle paintings using homemade flour paint for puffy textures, or try foam-shaped window art by adding water and pressing shapes onto glass surfaces.
For safe sensory exploration, you can make nature collages with contact paper and outdoor findings or make edible yoghurt paint.
Set up sticker art sessions with colourful adhesives and paper for a mess-free option.
Each activity develops fine motor skills and creativity while using simple materials you likely have at home.
Discover how these engaging projects can transform ordinary moments into artistic adventures.
Key Takeaways
- Sticker art needs only paper and stickers, allowing toddlers to create instantly while developing fine motor skills.
- Mix yoghurt with food colouring for an immediate edible paint activity that’s safe and engaging for babies and toddlers.
- Contact paper nature collages come together quickly by pressing collected leaves and flowers onto sticky surfaces.
- Window art using foam shapes requires just water and shapes, providing instant entertainment with easy cleanup.
- Squeeze bottle painting needs premixed flour-water paint for immediate creative expression through squeezing actions.
1. Squeezing Paint With Bottles
To start squeeze bottle painting, you’ll need only three simple supplies: empty bottles, homemade paint, and a protected workspace.
You can reuse bottles from ketchup, soap, or glue or purchase new ones from art supply stores.
Mix flour, water, and salt to create your paint, then add food colouring for vibrant hues. Remember to mix thoroughly to avoid lumps.
Add glitter or tempera paint to create different consistencies and effects for extra pizzazz. When dry, the paint will have a thick, raised texture similar to puffy paint.
Children find watching their creations take shape on the surface entertaining and engaging.
Cover your work surface with plastic sheets or cardboard before you begin.
This activity isn’t just fun—it’s educational, too.
Your toddler will develop fine motor skills by squeezing and releasing the bottles while exploring colours, textures, and basic scientific concepts by mixing and creating.
2. Window Art Using Foam Shapes
Creativity takes flight with window art using foam shapes. This mess-free activity is perfect for hot summer days or indoor entertainment.
You’ll need non-adhesive foam shapes, water, and paintbrushes to get started. Brush water onto your window or glass door, then press the foam shapes onto the wet surface.
You can find these foam shapes at craft stores or cut your own from foam sheets. Your little one will develop important skills while creating colourful scenes and patterns on the window.
This activity is perfect for group participation, allowing multiple children to collaborate on their artistic creations.
They stretch, reach, and practice fine motor control as they arrange shapes. Try this activity in the bathtub for added variety, where shapes stick to wet tiles.
You can even incorporate letters, numbers, or themed shapes to match holidays or seasons.
3. Contact Paper Nature Collage
Transform ordinary nature walks into lasting art by creating contact paper collages with your toddler.
This simple project promotes creativity in young children while connecting them with nature.
Gather contact paper, scissors, and tape, then head outside to collect leaves, flowers, and other natural treasures. You’ll want flat, lightweight items that stick easily to the paper.
To create your masterpiece, tape a piece of contact paper sticky-side-up to a flat surface.
Let your toddler arrange the nature items on the paper, then cover everything with a second contact paper.
Press firmly to remove air bubbles, and trim the edges for a clean finish. You can display your creation in a window as a suncatcher or hang it on the wall.
Plan a half-hour activity before storytime to maintain your toddler’s attention span.
While fresh materials may fade within a week, using dried leaves and petals will help your collage last longer.
4. Quick Yogurt Paint Creations
After investigating nature’s art materials, let’s turn to a fun indoor activity that’s safe enough to taste.
You’ll need plain yoghurt as your base, food colouring or natural dyes, and small containers for mixing.
Divide the yoghurt into portions and add colours to create your edible paint palette. Use 6 ounces of yoghurt divided into at least three containers for best results.
This activity is perfect for babies six months and older who have tried yoghurt without allergic reactions.
While you can use brushes, finger painting often creates the most engaging experience.
The activity naturally develops fine motor skills as children paint and explore.
Set up outside or cover your workspace with paper for easier cleanup. Let your toddler mix colours, investigate textures, and enjoy sensory play.
Keep wipes handy, as things will get messy!
5. Sticker Art on Paper
Making art with stickers offers toddlers an exciting way to explore shapes, colours, and textures while developing essential fine motor skills.
You’ll love how simple it is to set up this engaging activity using materials from your local stationery store.
Simple sticker invitations keep young children focused and entertained with minimal supervision.
Washi tape and stickers are excellent for creating colourful designs on any surface.
Here’s what you can try with your little one:
- Create resist art by placing stickers on paper, painting around them, and peeling them off
- Design colourful mandalas using geometric shapes on construction paper circles
- Make DIY wrapping paper by rolling foam stickers with a rolling pin
For easier access, peel stickers ahead of time and place them along the table’s edge.
You can sort them by size and colour to add an educational element while your toddler creates them.
This versatile activity works on any paper surface, even scraps, making it perfect for impromptu art sessions.
