Easy Toddler Process Art Activities

Last Updated on September 22, 2021 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Learn about the many ways to introduce toddler process art through this compilation of simple preschool activities.

Process art provides an amazing opportunity for toddler development in such a fun way. This style of activity allows toddlers to discover new sensory experiences and begin to interact with ideas such as color mixing.

This is because the defining aspect of process art is that it does not focus on the end product. Unlike craft projects which has a general set goal for the appearance- making a mouse, drawing a flower, etc.- process art is focused on the learning experience of the actual art process itself.

Shaking, rolling, stamping, and mixing motions promote fine motor development as children learn about how the objects interact with one another, learning more about the natural world.

Luckily, not only is process art very beneficial, but it’s also fairly easy to set up! So many common objects can be utilized as art tools. Now, just because the focus is not on the end appearance, that doesn’t mean that you can’t appreciate the outcome! Examine the finished art work with toddlers, looking at the lines and texture that are left behind and talking about which objects made it look that way.

Easy Toddler Process Art Activities

Painting With Utensils – Place assorted kitchen utensils in trays of paint for fun process art!

Supplies: Kitchen utensils, paint, paper

Salad Spinner Painting – Place pieces of paper cut into circles inside of a salad spinner along with various colors of paint for toddlers to spin paint.

Salad spinner, paint, circular paper

Muddy Pigs – Place these pig printables inside of plastic bags with shaving cream and brown paint to cover the pigs in mud.

Brown paint, shaving cream, plastic bags, pig printable on site

Vertical Painting – On an acrylic stand, tape a piece of paper set vertically for toddlers to drip paint down with a pipette.

Pipettes, thinned down paint, acrylic stand, paper

Shake Painting – Place dried beans inside of an empty plastic jar with paint and paper to shake around. (Sunny Day Family)

Plastic jar, paint, paper, dried beans 

No-Mess Smush Painting – Inside of a sealable plastic bag, place dots of paint on top of a piece of paper for toddlers to smush around. (Happy Toddler Club)

Plastic bags, paint, paper

Ice Painting – Fill an ice cube tray with colored water with popsicle sticks to make painting ice. (Easy Peasy and Fun)

Food coloring, ice tray, popsicle sticks, paper

Spaghetti Brushes – Rubber band bundles of spaghetti together and cook the ends to use as paintbrushes. (The Kitchen Table Classroom)

Spaghetti, rubber bands, paint, paper

Ball Rolling with Paint – Roll a variety of balls around inside of a box with paint and paper to leave colorful lines. (Early Learning Ideas)

Various ball toys, paper, paint, cardboard box or lid 

Fizzy Art – Toddlers will drip vinegar onto the baking soda to make a colorful and fizzy reaction. (Taming Little Monsters)

Baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, pipettes, watercolor paper

Cardboard Roll Printing – Tape bubble wrap around a cardboard roll to make a fun paint roller. (Teach Me Mommy)

Cardboard roll, bubble wrap, paper, paint

Toy Stamping – Stomp toy animals into paint and onto paper to leave tracks. (Parenting Chaos)

Small toy dinosaurs or other animals, paint, paper

Dripping Paint – Fill plastic egg halves with holes in the bottom with paint to drip onto the paper. (Learn Play Imagine)

Plastic eggs, butcher paper, paint

More ideas:

Outdoor Art Activities

Fun Recycled Crafts

2 Ingredient Apple Prints