I get many questions about how we introduce art to our 2 year olds, and what activities they enjoy.
We invite the 2's to the art table by removing all the chairs. This way they can just walk up and start working. We don't require they wear smocks, as often this will stop them from wanting to paint or glue. (Unless it's a special project that does not include washable materials.) We discuss this with the parents at the start of the year and encourage them to send their children in washable play clothes.
Once they feel comfortable, they will walk right up and explore!
Here are some art activities we do with the 2's:
Painting in, on, and around boxes.
Stamping paint on large pieces of paper.
(These are home-made stamps we made by screwing blocks on top of various lids.)
Group painting. This is especially nice at the beginning of the year!
Painting with utensils. This is helpful for those who are still timid to get their hands in paint, due to the long handles.
One of our very favorites: rolling paint with brayers! We do this on a flat surface as well as at the easel.
You can use many different objects to dip into paint.
We experiment with various sized brushes and various thicknesses of paint.
Some love to get their hands in it!
While others prefer to keep their hands clean. Putting objects and paint in a Zip Lock bag is still a sensory experience, but the paint doesn't touch the hands.
Or squirting paint on wax paper and then placing another piece of wax paper on top. Again, no touching the paint!
I enjoy varying what we paint on. In this case, it was tin foil.
Eventually we add some glue to our projects.
And add some objects to our glue!
And driving cars and trucks through paint - one of our VERY favorites!
Eventually most of the 2's feel comfortable to get their hands in there and have fun! And for those that still are sensitive to the feeling of paint, they know they can wash their hands ... often!
Let them have fun with whatever you choose. Give them time to explore. Sometimes they want to leave and do something else and then return for some more. A true learning experience!
Wonderful ideas and wonderful post! When my girls were younger they always liked to stand while doing art projects, much easier to move around the table that way! :)
ReplyDeleteSo true, Aleacia! The 2's love to walk all the way around the table while painting!
DeleteAwesome post! My 3 year old loves painting on tin foil- it's such a great surface.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeanette! I think last year was the first time I tried foil. I just made sure to put dishwashing liquid in the paint so it would adhere better.
DeleteLove all of these, but especially the standing at the table . . . that makes so much sense! And, the driving trucks through paint.
ReplyDeleteWe drove trucks through white paint yesterday - to mimic snow. Once again, a huge hit!
DeleteHow do you keep the 2's from getting completely covered in paint? We use smocks and they have paint all over them by the time the children are done painting (not just a few spots).
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the reasons we hardly use smocks - I didn't find it to help much because they'd just reach under the smock to wipe their hands on their clothes, or the smocks would leave paint as the children were trying to remove them. Our children do get paint on them, but usually it's not that much, for some reason. Perhaps because they are aware of their clothing? Not sure. But if they do get too much on them, we have spare clothes we can change them into. It's rarely an issue, though.
DeleteI love the standing at the table idea however at my family daycare we use the kitchen table and it's too high for them to stand at to do art. We use smocks and have no issue with anyone not wanting to wear it. They know that in order to do art they must wear one and they are fine with that. You have some wonderful ideas and I love the driving the cars in paint one that I just may try today with my group. Happy Creating everyone!
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