Last Updated on September 14, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: This toddler apple activity includes lots of action, so it’s the perfect fall idea for busy little kids!
Stamping fresh apple halves in paint is an art activity that’s been around for a long time. One of those classics you probably did as a child, too. And it really is such a fun activity with lots of arm movement and loud tap, tap, taps as the apple is slapped onto the paper.
But while this well-known art activity is loved by preschoolers, it can be really frustrating for a toddler.
Imagine that small hand trying to reach around the apple half, then dipping it into wet tempera paint. Now that hand needs to move that slippery apple half to the paper. And while being transferred to the paper, the apple is too slippery to handle so it drops.
Perhaps on the table.
Perhaps on the chair.
Perhaps on the floor.
And now the toddler is frustrated. His short attention span encourages him to move on to something else.
Yep, I’ve seen this many times. And I can’t believe how long it took me to find an easier way. It completely changed this fall art activity.
How to Put Together a Toddler Apple Activity with Lots of Action
Let me first let you know that I honestly cannot say this is my idea. In fact, I’m most certain it’s not. I somehow discovered it many years ago, long before Pinterest was born.
The simple trick to adapting this apple stamping activity for toddlers is carving a handle on the round side of the apple slice.
I will now add another trick. Well, actually, a tip.
To really make this activity work with toddlers, have everything ready before you get them to the art table.
Trust me on this.
Related: The Best Ideas for Busy Toddlers
Setting up this toddler apple activity:
Before we opened our classroom door and greeted our toddlers, we cut the apples in half and then carved the handles into them.
Pour the paint into shallow containers.
Place one apple half in each container of paint.
Place everything on the table.
It’s ready to go!
Now here’s what you will need:
- Apples, cut in half
- Red washable tempera paint
- Paper that has an apple outline. Note: I just happened to make for this activity and I am sharing with you towards the end of this post.
Once your toddlers are seated at the table (or standing, as some busy toddlers don’t like to sit, so we just remove the chair), you might need to demonstrate how to transfer the apple from the container of paint to the paper.
They might start off slowly, or they might put all their energy into it. But once they get started, they are hooked.
After all, this involves big movements as the entire arm is going up and down.
And there is noise as the apple hits the paper.
This is what toddlers love. It’s the process that matters most!
Related: Easy Art Tips for Toddlers
Once they are finished, let their artwork dry.
You can stop at this point.
OR
You can cut the apple out and glue it to green paper.
And there you go!
A fun toddler activity that involves lots of movement!
While we are on the subject of apples, check out this mega collection of apple activities!
THANK YOU!!!!!!! I also was frustrated last year doing this because of the slickness. This solves everything!
Yes, thank you! We did this activity this week, but had a hard time. I will def. remember this for next year!
Oh my. The things people think of, this is awesome! I really think we all have the capability to come up with these things but just get so clouded by “the everyday” to clearly come up with ideas. Props to the inventor! This will probably work mini pumpkins prints also. 🙂
Some people in our world do not have apples to eat. Children here use this valuable and precious commodity to make a pretty mark…a “pretty in your adult eyes” mark. Id be that child saying “instead of making a picture with this fruit, can I take it home to eat for dinner? or save for my friend who has no food…” I challenge you to think of materials other than food to make interesting and aesthetic marks. Re-purposed and recyclable materials like bottle caps, corrugated cardboard, and fabrics…
I totally agree with you but this year I decided to pick ugly apples off of the neighbor’s apple tree, with permission of course. They had black spots on them and holes and were disgusting to look at, let alone eat, but the children loved it and it got the same effect.
I’m looking for ideas to do with 1 1/2- 2 year olds! This is wonderful! I’m new to working with this age and didn’t even think how tough it would be to hold!
could you post ideas for Thanksgiving now while my team and I are planning for the next couple of weeks. I love your ideas, but they come a little too late.
Apart from the ‘using fresh food as printing material’ issue I would ask what exactly are you ‘teaching’ here?
I have worked with under 5’s and their families as teacher, SENCO and head teacher for many years and am constantly amazed at what some members of the profession think is teaching and learning. What theory of education is this based on? Where is the evidence that a child actually learns something useful by recreating exactly the same picture as his/her classmates or friends by stamping a piece of apple into some paint and then on to a piece of paper- it would have been more beneficial to let the child learn to cut up the apple.
Very good point, Michele. This activity was actually part of an entire apple unit. We read about apples, cut apples, explored their seeds. We had the children bring in a variety of apples that we color sorted and then tasted, noting the difference in taste. We weighed them and graphed them by size and color. We then made applesauce. My apologies that I did not include all of that in this post, which was written awhile ago. I would never just do one activity such as this without having it be connected to the real thing. I am a firm believer on that.