Easy Butterfly Art for Toddlers

Inside: This easy butterfly art for toddlers provides lots of motion as paint is rolled to make a print. A fun addition to the bugs and butterflies theme!

We love to welcome spring with butterfly activities!

First, we learn about the lifecycle of the butterfly with our live caterpillars, watching them go through the process of turning into butterflies.

Then, we fill our classroom with creative butterfly art!

Toddlers love all the action that takes place while rolling different colors of paint on a mirror to make butterfly prints.

And, it’s easy to put together!

Easy Butterfly Art for Toddlers

I’ve created quite a bit of butterfly art over the 26 years I’ve taught two and three year olds, including:

• Colorful Butterflies Using Q-Tips
• Butterflies Painted with Marbles
• Big Butterfly Art

For this particular activity, I decided to use rollers since my students have had a lot of fun with them during previous art activities.

We love using paint rollers because they encourage the entire arm (and shoulder!) to move.

Related: How to Build Fine Motor Skills Using Rollers at the Easel

Roller painting also allows the children to use big motions, something young children love to make.

I chose to use our playdough mirrors to roll the paint on because they are slick and it’s fun to watch the different colors mix together on them. However, if you don’t have mirrors, you can roll the paint on smooth trays.

CLICK HERE for more butterfly activities!

Supplies for this Butterfly Art

• Butterfly printable (we used this one and reduced it a bit in size to fit an 8.5 x 11 inch paper)
• Assorted tempera paint (I used bright neon paint, but that is optional)
• White 8.5 x 11 paper (I like to use heavier cardstock paper)
• Paint rollers (we like brayers and rollers)
• Mirrors or trays

Preparation

Make enough copies of the butterflies so that each child has one. Cut away the background so that you have a butterfly shape.

Set Up

Place mirrors or trays on table and add rollers.

Squirt different colors of paint on the mirrors or trays.

Have paper butterflies nearby.

Watch: How I Manage Our Art Table

Invitation to Paint

Invite the children to push their rollers through the different colors of paint, noticing what happens when they overlap and mix.

There really is no right or wrong way to do this. Just roll!

Creating the Print

When they are finished rolling the paint, have the children press their paper butterfly face down on top of the mirror or tray.

Gently pat the paper and then lift the paper butterfly.