Preschool Easel Painting Activities

The easel is available every day and is offered during our free-choice centers time. It’s placed in our art area, close to the sink so that hands can be washed when done painting.

Watch: How to Manage the Art Center

Benefits

Fine Motor

Moving the painting tool from the paint container to the easel surface requires focus and control.

Large Motor

Because of the angle of the arm, using the easel works the shoulder and entire arm. The bigger the surface, the more exercise this area of the body gets.

Cognitive Skills

There is a lot to figure out while using an easel, such as how the paint will get on the paper, how the different colors will mix, and how to handle the drips that occur.

Social Skills

Toddlers and preschoolers can work side-by-side or, if you have a 2-sided easel, across from each other.

Creativity

There is no specific outcome expected when creating at the easel. The artist can choose how much or how little to apply to the surface, creating any desired design.

Preparing the Area

Our easel is situated over a linoleum floor, so wiping spills is easy. If you are planning to put your easel on carpet, you will want to protect it with some sort of vinyl tablecloth or tarp.

It’s also helpful to have water nearby so that hands can be washed when finished, and to wipe any spills.

Introducing the Easel

When we first introduce the easel to our toddlers and preschoolers, we use a sheet of white paper and one color of paint. We show them how to move the brush from the paint container to the paper, and then back to the paint pot to apply more paint.

It’s important to supervise the easel area at the start of the year with toddlers, as it’s not uncommon for them to walk away with a paintbrush still in their hands. (Yes, I’ve experienced this too many times to count!)

Tools to Paint With

We start with paint brushes as our toddlers and preschoolers become familiar with the easel. However, once they feel comfortable, we substitute the paint brush with other fun tools or objects.

• Brayers
• Corks
• Rolling pins
• Cotton Swabs
• Sewing spools

• Waffle Blocks
• Kitchen utensils
• Toy cars

• Paint rollers
• Feathers
• Combs
• Toothbrushes

• Pipettes
• Cotton balls on clothespins
•  Sticks
• Balloons

•  Stampers
•  Do-a-Dots
• Cookie Cutters

Surfaces to Paint On

 Yes, paper is probably the most popular surface to paint on the easel. We even like to cut the paper into different shapes to, perhaps, go along with a theme. But there are so many other materials you can place on the easel!

• Bubble wrap
• Tin foil
• Freezer paper
• Burlap
• Cardboard
• Coffee filters
• Egg Cartons
• Packaging

Types of Paint

 Again, there are a lot of options on what to use at the easel. You can try most recipes that you would use on a flat surface and see what happens when they are done vertically.

• Tempera paint
• Finger paint
• Chalk paint
• Watercolors
• Shaving cream
• Puffy paint

More than Paint

Try chalk, markers, crayons, pens and pencils, too!

Easel Activities

Rolling Paint at the Easel

Waterfall Painting

Googly-Eye Easel Starters (Teach Preschool)

Painting With Water (Messy Little Monster)

Monoprints (To the Lesson!)

Bubble Painting (Teach Preschool)

Sticky Faces (No Time for Flashcards)

Painting on Foil (Picklebums)

Spring Garden Sticky Easel (Learning 4 Kids)

Drippy Painting (Tinkerlab)

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