Art is the perfect messy fun for kids and makes for ideal sensory play. So don the old clothes, cover the table and crack open the paint pots – fun is guaranteed with these 22 Easy Painting Ideas for Kids.
Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.
If you are looking for painting ideas to inspire and prompt your kids, you’ve come to the right place! We have heaps of ideas that are easy to tackle.
Easy Painting Ideas For Kids
#1. Ice Painting
I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable this painting technique really is for the little ones. If your child enjoys getting their hands messy, this is definitely one to try! Learn with Play at Home and Messy Little Monster have also been busy enjoying Ice Painting!
#2. Nature Paintbrushes
Image: Messy Little Monster
These set of Nature Paintbrushes are definitely the most beautiful and inspiring set of Nature brushes I have ever seen! I love how you can combine this activity with a Nature Walk and collect the bits you need together too! Oh and check out Danya Banyas Painting with (and on) Sticks too!
You May Also Enjoy 15 Simple Summer Crafts for Kids
#3. Bottle Top Art
Image: A Little Pinch of Perfect
This is a process art that I have never considered doing before. How effective is the outcome!! Definitely adding this to our to-do list!
You May Also Enjoy 50 Brilliant Ideas for Arts & Crafts
#4. Squirty Foam Paint
Image: Learn with Play at Home
Now this kind of painting is right up my street. With some simple ingredients and a bit of recycling it’s pretty easy to try out too!
You May Also Enjoy 16 Super Easy Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers
#5. Watercolour Glue Resist Art
Image: Artsy Momma
This is a great art technique that children of all ages will enjoy. Using watercolours and glue to make shapes and outlines. You’ll find the instructions on Artsy Momma.
#6. Rainbow Sidewalk Paint
Image: Learn Play Imagine
Want to take art outdoors? How about making some of your own outdoor paint? I love the bottles they use in this activity too! You could also have a go at painting with it on paper like Mama Papa Bubba shows us.
You May Also Enjoy 28 Wonderful Rainbow Inspired Activities for Kids
#7. Shaving Foam Painting
Image: Learning and Exploring Through Play
We really love how this turned out! Little N asks to do this activity often.
This activity (along with 150+ more activities) features in a great book we co-authored, that is jam packed full of Learning through Play activities for kids! Find out more about our book here.
Look how Mom Inspired Life enjoyed shaving foam painting on their windows!
You May Also Enjoy 12 Simple Art Projects for Toddlers & Preschoolers
#8. Painted Toast
Image: Messy Little Monster
Looking to spice up breakfast time and start the day on a creative note? How about some colourful, painted toast to eat? Messy Little Monster has the details.
You May Also Enjoy Nursery Rhyme Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers
#9. DIY Bath Paints
Image: The Realistic Mama
Do you enjoy making bath time fun for your little ones? Try making some homemade bath paint (instructions on The Realistic Mama) and giving them the opportunity to get creative while they are in the tub.
#10. Fingerprinted Season Keepsake
Image: Rhythms of Play
Not only does this look very effective, it’s a keepsake and provides a cute decoration that you can hang up on you wall all year round! Rhythms of Play have a lovely project to create this seasonal tree art with fingerprints and thumbprints.
You May Also Enjoy 8 Awesome Art Projects for Kids You will Treasure
#11. Spiderweb Art
Image: Learn with Play at Home
This is a lovely painting activity from Learn With Play At Home? You could even make your own Handprint Spiders to cut out and add to your colourful webs!
#12. Spin Art
Image: Learning and Exploring Through Play
Spin art painting is a firm favourite of mine. I remember doing it as a child! It always goes down well with the children, and adults just can’t resist having a go too!
#13. Squirt Gun Painting
Image: Mama Papa Bubba
Definitely one for outdoors, let the kids loose with paint bottles they can squirt at a big piece of paper!
You May Also Enjoy 12 Funky Crafts for Kids Aged 8-12 yrs
#14. Printing with Foam Blocks
Image: Rhythms of Play
Is your child a fan of building with blocks in the construction area but not so keen to paint? Why not combine the two and use the blocks to print?!
#15. Mess-Free Painting
Image: Learning and Exploring Through Play
Some children are reluctant to get paint on their fingers, while other children continue putting anything and everything into their mouths. Sometimes you only have a quick couple of minutes to do an activity – this mess-free painting activity is great for these moments!
You May Also Enjoy 10 Mess Free No Glue Crafts for Preschoolers
#16. Painting on Salt
Not only a fun canvas to paint on, there is also some great science behind this technique!
You May Also Enjoy 18 Easy Science Experiments Perfect for Preschoolers
# 17. Nebulae Art
Image: Mosswood Connections
What a delightful way to capture your child’s interests through art. If you have a child who is interested in space, have them try Nebulae Art, it’s a lovely, calming, painting technique.
#18. Painting on Foil
This is purely about the process, but Painting on Foil is also a delightful painting technique with the hands and fingertips! If you have a child who is reluctant to get their hands dirty, use a paintbrush or Q-Tips.
#19. Coffee Filter Painting
Image: Messy Little Monster
Colour mixing with coffee filters is a fun painting process, find the instructions on Messy Little Monster. Children can observe the different colours they create by mixing 2 or more colours together.
#20. Spice Painting
Image: Mama Papa Bubba
A great painting activity to engage the senses! From textures, to scents, to the colours, spice painting with DIY paints is a fun idea from Mama Papa Bubba.
#21. Painting with Playdough Tools
Playdough tools make a great variety of patterns and imprints in Playdough and that’s no different in paint too! Try this fun painting with playdough tools.
22. Homemade Paint Recipes
Image: Learn Play Imagine
To finish off our collection of painting activities and techniques for kids, here is an amazing collection of paint recipes to work your way through!
You May Also Enjoy 10 of the Cutest Popsicle Stick Crafts for Kids to Make
About the Author: admin
