Fall Cardboard Painting for Toddlers

Inside: This fall cardboard painting for toddlers is all about the process. Painting, rolling, sharing materials all while working together in a group!

It’s no secret around here that I love using cardboard for art activities.

Not only is it free (because I always seem to have empty boxes somewhere in my house), but it’s also extremely durable.

During our fall theme, I wanted an activity that would invite my two year olds to explore autumn colors.

And, since we hadn’t been in school very long, I wanted them to work as a group, learning how to share materials while using their verbal skills.

I also always love an art project that uses what we already have at our preschool.

This fall cardboard painting checks off all those boxes, and more!

Fall Cardboard Painting for Toddlers

I am fortunate to live in an area of the United States where nature likes to show off in the fall.

I’ve lived here for over thirty years and the changing colors of the trees never ceases to amaze me!

So I love bringing those colors into the classroom any way that I can.

Some ways we have explored colors in the fall:

• Watercolor Leaf Banner
• Nature Art
• Big Pumpkin Collage
• Cardboard Fall Tree

This year I wanted to use a big piece of cardboard that I happened to have on hand.

I also wanted to introduce paint rollers since that is one of my favorite ways to strengthen fine motor skills at the art table.

Supplies

• Large piece of flat cardboard
• Tempera paint in fall colors
• Paint brushes
• Paint rollers

Preparation

Good news! There’s not a whole lot of prep work for this group art activity!

The less I need to do ahead of time, the more it’s the children’s art, not mine.

And I think that’s really important.

All you need to do is make sure your cardboard is flat. So if you have a box, cut the sides and flatten it out.

Then, pour paint into trays and grab your paint rollers and paint brushes.

Don’t you just love these easy to prepare art activities? I sure do.

Set Up

Place your flat piece of cardboard on the art table.

Add containers of paint on or beside the cardboard, along with the rollers and paint brushes.

Invitation to Paint

Just like there is little prep involved, there is also little instruction that is needed.

If your children haven’t used a paint roller before, make sure they dip it into the container of paint and then roll it on the cardboard.

They will get the hang of it pretty quickly!

Rollers allow for the entire arm and shoulder to be used.

Young children love to use big motions, and this activity encourages that.

The larger the cardboard, the more room they will have to move their arms.

This is especially loved by children who might not yet enjoy small fine motor activities.

I have found that children who don’t normally feel comfortable using their fine motor skills really enjoy this activity!

When one color is applied on top of another, toddlers get to experience color mixing.

As they mix the colors, ask them what new color they made!

Oh yes. Hands might get involved, too!

Painting and Rolling on a Vertical Surface

On day two of this activity, I hung the painted cardboard on our easel.

Painting vertically puts the hand and arm in a different position, continuing to strengthen fine motor skills.

More: 15+ Activities for the Easel

My two year olds always love painting on the easel together, so having a larger space with the big cardboard is perfect!

But It Can’t Go Home in a Backpack

I’ve actually had this comment many times when I share group activities.

Teachers, not everything has to go home.

This is why documenting the process with photos is so important.

I make sure to tell my parents at open house that not everything we do will go home.

We do a lot of group activities!

So I make sure to take plenty of photos and they go home in our weekly Google photo album.

This is art. Not a cookie cutter craft where the teacher did most of the prep work.

Not a craft that had a specific outcome.

This was a hands-on painting activity that was all about the process.

And they had lots of fun with it!