Cute Chic

Try this cute chic for some spring time art.  Just cut out an oval (have the kids draw one and then cut it out, if they are capable) and cut it in 2 pieces using a zig zag pattern.  Cut out a chic shaped head from yellow paper.  Then put a hinge on the side and have the kids decorate as they like.

Bubble wrap bee hives

Try this to make bee hives: paint bubble wrap with yellow paint.  Draw a picture of a hive on white paper and push the bubble wrap onto the hive to paint it.  Next, put an index finger into black paint and push it onto the yellow hive to make bees.  So easy and cute and great for finger isolation (index finger only in black paint) and sensory. For an added challenge, once the hive is dry, have the child cut it out.

Home Made Fine Motor Activity

Here's an easy fine motor activity you can make at home.  All you need is a clear, plastic jar and cotton balls.  Have the kids use tongs to pick up the cotton balls and put them into the container.  To increase the difficulty of the task, leave the lid on and have them put the balls through the pour hole.  Once the jar is filled, they have made a cute snowman.

milk jug igloo

Kids love to play in forts. tents and other confined places.  So, for winter we decided to try an "igloo" fort. Collect any size jug to make your igloo.  We found it is easier to tape 3-4 together first, then tape these rows together.  Make it as high and wide as you like.  Have a snow ball battle from the fort.

Puffy paint painting

Here's a way to make finger painting different- add some bath foam or even shaving cream.  The paint feels thicker and smoother and seems "puffy".  Try a divided tray to hold different color paints. Remember- don't be afraid to let the kids get messy!

Corn painting

Need something to do with your leftover corn decorations now that the holiday is over?  Have the kids paint with it.  Just paint the cob and roll it across a piece of paper.  Kids can get creative and use many colors.  Don't worry about getting messy- just have fun.

Car roll painting

Here's a fun idea that kids will love- especially boys!  Use cars to roll a picture.  Simply roll the tires through paint and let the kids roll them on paper.  Use different cars and different color paints to make really cool designs.

New ways to use shapes from a shape sorter

Try pairing them with the same colored paints for printing...

Or try using them as stencils to trace around. Sort them by color, then by shape, see if your child can work out the differences in attribute. What other ways can you come up with?

Looking for something to do with all that bubble wrap?  Paint with it.   Simply apply paint to the bubble wrap and push a piece of paper on top of it, pushing down all over the paper to get the paint on it.  You can use one color, or many different colors to make a picture.  Give it a try!

Rainbow fish art

Here's an easy but super cute and fun one... Color a fish with water based markers, then use a squirt bottle to wet it (that's the fun part), then glue a piece of tin foil on it for a shiny scale!

String art

Have fun painting- use string to make stripes on a zebra.  Just dip the end into paint and swish it across a picture of a zebra.  Looks cool, and kids love to paint using string.

St. Patrick's Day craft

Here's a cute St. Patrick's Day craft idea.  The older kids can cut out the strips of paper for the arms and legs, draw and cut out the hearts for the body and draw and cut out the hat.  Younger kids can to do the gluing and have them fold the paper strips for the legs and arms.

Break apart crayons

So, these are pretty cool.  It is a crayon that breaks down into smaller segments.  All the sections come apart so that you can use them as small pieces to facilitate a mature grasp.  The best part- they are from the Dollar Tree.  Give them a try.

Glove painting

Try this painting- fill latex gloves and have the kids use the gloves to paint.  You can fill one with warm water and one with cold water to teach temperature.  Fill one with sand or pebbles.  This is a great sensory activity.  Be creative and let the kids get messy!

Paint with vegis

Here's a fun way to paint.  Use vegetables.  Here, we used a pepper, a potato, and a carrot to create pictures.  The vegetables are cut in half so the paint has a place to stick. The kids loved being able to use the vegetables to make cool pictures.  You can use any vegi you like- try broccoli. Have a blast making neat pictures.

Paint with foam

Here's a twist on painting- use foam.  Just mix finger paint with bath foam and you get foamy paint.  What great sensory play!  Not only does it feel different, it has a different smell.  So, give your kids some paper and foamy paint and let them go at it.

Have your kids write letters and numbers in the paint using their index finger.  Remember, the more senses you put into learning, the easier it is to learn. So, use this as a non-conventional way to teach letters and numbers.

Corn projects

What to do with the leftover corn from your holiday decorating?  Try some art projects with the kids.  Here is one project you could do.  Have the kids pick the kernels off the cob, color the leaves and then glue the kernels to the picture. 

Another really cool idea is corn cob painting.  Put paint on a tray, take a corn cob (with, or without, kernels) and roll it in the paint.  Then roll the cob on paper to make neat designs.

Bubble Painting

This is a cool idea I saw from at a preschool and told the teacher I would be "borrowing" this idea.  Bubble painting!  The kids LOVE it and it looks really cool to watch. 
Here's what you will need:
Paint mixed with dish detergent:  3/4 paint, 1/4 dish detergent  
    I found thinner paint works best.  You may need to play around with the mixture.

Paper cups

Straws- bendy straws work best

Paper Plates

Rubber Bands

Baby Wash cloths:  I found some at the dollar store

Mix the paint and pour onto a paper plate.  Poke a hole, gently so as not to go through the opposite side of the cup and so as not to get too big a hole,  through the paper cup with the straw.  Place the washcloth over the open end of the cup and secure it with the rubber band.  Place the straw through the hole in the cup and angle the end towards, but not touching, the cloth. Dip the cup, cloth end, into the paint.  Have your child blow through the straw as hard as they can and soon bubbles will come out!  TIP:  you will need to get a lot of paint onto the cloth for it to work. Rub the bubbles onto a picture and see how cool it looks.

 

 

Minion cupcakes

Here is a cute idea for cupcakes that a mom of one of my clients sent in as a birthday treat.  Minion cupcakes.  The kids in class loved these cupcakes. The minion's head is a twinky with marshmallow eyes and icing mouth and hair. 

Make an Ocean

Make an ocean!  Have your child paint a couple of pieces of paper and staple them together to make an ocean.  Then have your child draw fish and crabs and other ocean creatures.  Color or paint them, cut them out  and glue them on the water.  He/she will have his/her own ocean to hang up in his/her room.  Be creative and make all kinds of sea life.  You could look at ocean books to give your child some ideas.