The best arts and crafts ideas that are simple and open-ended, allowing toddlers to explore the materials and the world around them.
Updated April 2024
Process art is all about the making and doing rather than just the end result––which by the way––is still stunning artwork. When it comes to toddlers, process art is a wonderful way to engage young children through art.
A toddler making art is exploring the materials, the tools, his body, the world around him, and cause and effect as he creates.
Here are some of our favorite art activities for the younger artists, plus some tips of making the process successful!
Tips for Doing Arts and Crafts with Toddlers
Here are 3 top tips for a smooth experience creating art with toddlers. For more recommendations see 7 Tips for Doing Art with Toddlers.
1. Toddler Safety: Keep toddlers safe by supervising closely and giving reminders to put the art materials on the paper rather than in the mouth.
2. Describe What You See: You can give words to understand what your toddler is doing. Here’s some ideas for how to talk with your kids about art.
3. Encourage Your Toddler’s Creativity: And you can also encourage your toddler’s creativity by giving permission to explore and experiment rather than with an expectation to create as you might have.
Remember that a toddler’s attention span may be quite short. Like five minutes, even. And that’s okay. It is still well worth giving them the opportunity to explore and create with art materials, even if it is for just 5 minutes at a time.
Ready? Here is a selection of simple, process-oriented art activities for toddlers. These are the kinds of activities that they can do over and over again, in lots of different ways, as they begin to explore art.
Arts & Crafts Ideas for Toddlers
1. Playdough with Poke-Ins
We return to playdough over and over again in our home. It’s as much a staple art material as paint sticks, markers and gel crayons.
2. Sticker Collage Art
Pick up round labels from the stationary aisle at Target. They’re cheap and easy for toddlers to lift and stick for a great fine motor building workout.
3. Blot Art Prints
This is a project we return to again and again at our toddler art classes because toddlers go wild over this activity!
4. Bubble Wrap Printing
This is a fun art activity that we return to often. Tape bubble wrap to the table and then scoop a few colors of paint onto it. At some point this will likely become a finger-painting experience as little hands squish and spread the paint.
If you’d like to capture a print before the colors become too mixed, press a piece of paper onto the bubble wrap. Rub all over then gently peel it off to reveal the print!
5. Painting with Wheels
This is a fun one for toddlers and you can literally see the wheels turning (no pun intended). But seriously, their concentration is at an all-time high watching the cause and effect as car wheels create tracks across the paper.
6. Contact Paper Suncatchers
Tape some Con-Tact paper to the wall (sticky side up) and set out cut yarn, felt, tissue paper and paper shapes.
7. Watercolor Resist Painting
Another easy and beautiful process art activity that kids can return to over and over again. Get ready to frame the amazing abstract artwork that your kids will create!
And finally, never forget how much toddlers love to squeeze paints in a bottle or glue. Set out a piece of cardboard and let them happily put their little hands to work!
More Arts & Crafts Ideas for Toddlers
Visit The Artful Parent’s toddler page for lots of arts and crafts for toddlers.
Looking for art supplies for toddlers? Our post with the Best Art Supplies for Toddlers is filled with our top recommendations.
Want even more toddler ideas?
Check out our Toddler Creativity Pack!
This is exactly what you need to confidently embrace art time with your little ones! This eBook has all the tips and tricks you need to feel confident introducing art to your young child.
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