Activities that incorporate colors for kids are great way to introduce toddlers to art experiences. Teaching colors for toddlers also teaches sensory experiences, the magic of discover and how to manipulate your world. Colors also introduce concepts of sorting for kids to learn some basic math foundations.
Activities that incorporate colors for kids are great way to introduce toddlers to art experiences. Teaching colors for toddlers also teaches sensory experiences, the magic of discover and how to manipulate your world. Colors also introduce concepts of sorting for kids to learn some basic math foundations.
In her best-selling book, First Art for Toddlers and Twos, MaryAnn F. Kohl offers activities to incorporate colors into the toddler curriculum. Read below for some lesson-plan inspiration!
Roly-Poly It
Materials
- Tempera paint
- Paint trays or old cookie sheets
- Paint rollers, different sizes
- Large paper
- Tape
Prepare (Adult)
- Pour puddles of tempera paint onto trays or old cookie sheets.
- Tape a large piece of paper to the table or on a wall.
- Put out a variety of paint rollers.
Process (Child)
- Roll real paint rollers through the paint and then onto big paper with room to experiment and explore. Use small cylinder or foam corner paint rollers (toddlers and twos seem to like the small rollers best).
Variations
- Tape a piece of large paper to a fence. When the child rolls the paint rollers over it, it will pick up the fence pattern from underneath.
- Soak used paint rollers in a bucket of water for easy clean up, or freeze in a plastic bag for use the next day.
Absorb It
Materials
- Bucket of water
- Coffee filters
- Newspaper
- Water-based markers
- Paintbrushes
- Water in cups
- Misting spray bottle, optional
Prepare (Adult)
- Place open, flat coffee filters on a piece of newspaper.
- Put out water-based markers, cups of water, paintbrushes.
Process (Child)
- Draw with the markers on the coffee filter, and then paint the marker lines with a paintbrush dipped in water.
- The marker lines come to life, blurring and spreading into the absorbent coffee filter - a magical and beautiful sight!
Variations:
- Draw with the markers as above, but spray the filter with a misting spray bottle filled with water.
- Dab the marker lines with a wet sponge.
Ribbon It
Materials
- Ribbons
- Tempera paint
- Scissors
- Paper
- Yarn, string, jewelry chains, or strings of beads, optional
- Wet paper towels or sponges
Prepare (Adult)
- Cut ribbons into 1- to 2-foot lengths and place them on the table.
- Pour puddles of paint on a tray or on a newspaper-covered table.
- Keep wet paper towels or sponges nearby for wiping painted fingers and hands.
Process (Child)
- Drop the ribbons into a puddle of paint, use hands to stir and coat them, and then drop them on a piece of paper to make curly patterns and prints.
- Drop, drag, or wiggle a ribbon on the paper, making one or more wiggly patterned paintings.
- Experiment with yarn, string, or even jewelry chains and strings of beads, if desired.
For more of MaryAnn F. Kohl's great lesson plan ideas, check out her book, First Art for Toddlers and Twos, and visit our Lesson Planning section!
