Top 10 art games for kids

Looking for creative activity ideas for your child? Art activities are not only a great way to spend quality time together but, more importantly, an effective method for supporting early childhood development. At Little Academy, as experts in early childhood education, we’ve prepared a practical guide to the most engaging art activities tailored to your child’s age and abilities.

Why is it worth fostering creativity in children?

Developing creativity through art activities brings tangible benefits for your child:

• Improves fine motor skills: Painting, molding, and cutting help children practice precise hand and finger movements, which later translate into better writing skills.
• Supports cognitive development: Experimenting with different materials and techniques sparks curiosity and develops cause-and-effect thinking.
• Builds self-confidence: Creating their own artwork strengthens a child’s sense of agency and pride in their accomplishments.
• Teaches emotional expression: Art is a safe way for children to express emotions that are difficult to verbalize.

Best Art Activities for Children

Remember that every child develops at their own pace. The ideas below can be adjusted to match your child’s skills and interests.

Art activities for a one-year-old

In the first year of life, a child explores the world through touch and taste. Therefore, all art materials must be completely safe.

Finger painting

What you need:

• Edible paints (you can make them with natural yogurt and food coloring)
• Large sheet of paper
• Plastic sheet or foil to protect the surface

How to play:

1. Set up the area, protect the surface, and dress your child in old clothes.
2. Put small amounts of paint on the paper.
3. Let your child freely explore the colors and textures.
4. Describe the colors and tactile sensations during play.

Handprint art

What you need:

• Safe finger paints
• Sturdy paper
• Wet wipes for cleaning hands

How to play:

1. Gently paint your child’s hand with paint.
2. Help them press it onto the paper.
3. You can turn the prints into shapes like a butterfly or flower.
4. Clean your child’s hands immediately after.

Tip: For a one-year-old, the most important things are safety and enjoying new textures. Don’t expect artistic results—what matters is the sensory exploration process.

Art activities for a 2-year-old

A two-year-old begins to understand cause-and-effect relationships and enjoys experimenting. This is a great time to introduce more complex art activities.

Vegetable stamping

What you need:

• Various vegetables (e.g., halved carrot, potato, bell pepper)
• Child-safe paints
• Large sheet of paper
• Shallow plate for paint

How to play:

1. Cut the vegetables in half to make “stamps.”
2. Pour some paint onto the plate.
3. Show your child how to dip the veggie in paint and stamp it on paper.
4. Name the colors and shapes that appear during the activity.
5. Let your child experiment with different patterns.

Safety tip: Always supervise the activity to ensure the child doesn’t try to eat the paint or vegetables used for stamping.

Salt dough with cookie cutters

What you need:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of salt
• About 1 cup of water
• Cookie cutters
• Plastic rolling pin
• Work mat

How to play:

1. Mix the ingredients together with your child to make salt dough.
2. Show how to roll out small portions of dough.
3. Help use the cutters to make shapes.
4. Set the shapes aside to dry (approx. 24 hours).
5. Paint the dried figures later.

Developmental benefits:

• Fine motor practice
• Shape recognition
• Hand-eye coordination

Large-format coloring

What you need:

• Large sheet of paper (e.g., wrapping paper)
• Thick crayons
• Painter’s tape

How to play:

1. Stick the paper to the floor or wall (at your child’s height).
2. Give your child several crayons in different colors.
3. Let them draw freely over the surface.
4. You can draw simple shapes (circles, squares) and encourage your child to color them in.

Important tips:

• Choose thick crayons that are easy to grip
• Don’t criticize scribbles—at this age, the process is more important than the result
• Praise your child’s effort and engagement
• Talk about the colors and movements your child uses

Remember that a two-year-old is still learning to control their movements. Don’t expect precision—the most important thing is for the activity to be joyful and support natural manual development. All activities should be supervised, and materials must be entirely safe.

Art activities for a 3-year-old

A three-year-old has greater control over their movements and can focus longer. It’s a great time to introduce more advanced art techniques.

Sponge painting

What you need:

• Different types of sponges (kitchen, natural)
• Poster paints
• Large sheet of paper
• Paint containers
• Protective apron

How to play:

1. Set up the station by laying out the paper and pouring paint into containers.
2. Show your child different sponge painting techniques:
   • Stamping
   • Dragging
   • Dabbing (gentle tapping)
3. Encourage them to create patterns and textures.
4. You can create backgrounds for future artwork.

Benefits:

• Creativity development
• Texture recognition
• Practice different grips

Paper collage

What you need:

• Colored paper
• Child-safe glue stick
• Paper with a simple shape drawn on it
• Scissors with rounded tips (optional, under supervision)

How to play:

1. Prepare pieces of colored paper (you can pre-tear them).
2. Show how to apply glue to the paper.
3. Fill in the shape together using the paper pieces.
4. Name the colors and elements in the picture.

Tips:

• Start with simple shapes (circle, sun, flower)
• Let your child choose colors independently
• Don’t worry if pieces go outside the lines

Painting on cling film

What you need:

• Clear cling film
• Poster paints
• Painter’s tape
• White sheet of paper

Activity process:

1. Stick the cling film to a table or window.
2. Place the white paper underneath.
3. Let your child paint on the cling film with their fingers.
4. Experiment with color mixing.
5. Make a print on the paper at the end.

Additional ideas:

• Drawing shapes in paint with fingers
• Handprints
• Creating symmetrical patterns by folding the film

Important rules for activities with a 3-year-old:

1. Always supervise material use
2. Praise the creative process, not just the final result
3. Offer choices in colors and techniques
4. Keep sessions to 20–30 minutes max
5. Prepare the space for easy cleanup
6. Protect clothes and surfaces

Each of these activities not only develops manual skills but also:

• Spatial imagination
• Planning ability
• Hand-eye coordination
• Concentration skills

Art activities for a 4-year-old

A four-year-old shows significant independence and precision in manual tasks. It’s a good time to introduce more complex art techniques.

Color explosion painting

What you need:

• Spray paints (can be made from diluted paint in spray bottles)
• Large sheet of white paper
• Various paper cut-out shapes (leaves, stars, etc.)
• Disposable gloves
• Outdoor space or well-protected area

How to play:

1. Lay out the paper or tape it to a wall.
2. Place the cut-out shapes on the paper.
3. Spray the surface with various colors.
4. Carefully remove the cut-outs.
5. Leave it to dry.

Result: After removing the templates, white shapes appear against the colorful background.

Creative collages

What you need:

• Various materials (magazines, fabric, ribbons, feathers)
• Glue
• Child-safe scissors
• Cardboard base
• Markers or crayons for extra elements

Creative process:

1. Let your child choose a theme (e.g., underwater world, space).
2. Select materials together.
3. Show how to cut and arrange the elements.
4. Encourage adding personal drawings.
5. Give the artwork a title.

Tips:

• Allow freedom in choosing materials.
• Support with challenging tasks (cutting).
• Ask about the meaning of individual elements.

Designing custom fabric patterns

What you need:

• White cotton T-shirt or tote bag
• Fabric paints
• Brushes of different sizes
• Cardboard to place inside the fabric
• Stencils (optional)

Instructions:

1. Insert cardboard between the fabric layers.
2. Discuss the design with your child.
3. Let them paint freely.
4. Allow to dry for 24 hours.
5. Fix the paint according to instructions.

Important developmental aspects for a four-year-old:

1. Work planning:
   • Encourage project planning
   • Help organize materials
   • Support through each step
2. Motor skill development:
   • Precise brush strokes
   • Controlled scissor cutting
   • Accurate gluing
3. Social development:
   • Learning to wait their turn
   • Sharing materials
   • Cleaning up after activities
4. Tips for parents:
   • Give clear instructions
   • Allow independent decisions
   • Acknowledge effort and engagement
   • Be patient when learning new techniques

Remember, a four-year-old can focus for longer but still needs support with more difficult tasks. Let them experiment and express their own ideas, while ensuring safety when using new tools.

Art activities for a 5-year-old

A five-year-old can skillfully use a variety of art tools and shows a lot of creativity. It’s the perfect time to introduce more advanced art techniques.

Watercolor painting with salt

What you need:

• Watercolors
• Watercolor paper
• Coarse table salt
• Brushes of various sizes
• Water container
• Paint palette

How to play:

1. Lightly wet the paper.
2. Let your child paint with wet watercolors.
3. Sprinkle salt onto the freshly painted areas.
4. Watch the salt create interesting patterns.
5. Once dry, shake off the excess salt.

Effect: Unique textures and patterns are created, perfect for landscapes or abstract art.

Paper mache sculptures

What you need:

• Old newspapers
• White glue (e.g., PVA)
• Bowl of water
• Paints for decorating
• Protective work surface

Creative process:

1. Tear the newspapers into small pieces.
2. Soak them in water.
3. Squeeze out the excess water.
4. Mix with glue.
5. Mold into desired shapes.
6. Paint after drying.

Art activities for preschoolers

Designing your own jewelry

What you need:

• Air-dry clay
• Cutters or molds
• Strings or ribbons
• Decorating tools (sticks, straws)
• Acrylic paints for decorating

Instructions:

1. Roll the clay into a thin sheet.
2. Cut out desired shapes.
3. Poke holes for stringing.
4. Paint after drying.
5. Thread onto strings.

Tips for working with five-year-olds:

1. Fostering independence:
   • Encourage their own ideas
   • Support planning
   • Assist with more difficult tasks
2. Improving technique:
   • Demonstrate new tool uses
   • Teach attention to detail
   • Introduce complex projects
3. Safety rules:
   • Supervise sharp tool use
   • Ensure proper glue usage
   • Remind about hygiene
4. Workspace organization:
   • Teach preparation skills
   • Show how to care for tools
   • Encourage cleaning up after activities

Remember:

• A five-year-old can work on a project for a longer time
• They can handle more complex ideas
• Let them explore different techniques
• Appreciate both the process and the final result
• Encourage them to talk about their work

At this age, it’s especially important to:

• Support original ideas
• Develop patience
• Teach step-by-step planning
• Improve precision

Art activities for school-aged children

School-aged kids are ready for more advanced art projects that not only foster creativity but also teach patience and planning.

Foam block printmaking

What you need:

• EVA foam (available at art stores)
• Blunt carving tool (e.g., pencil)
• Printing or tempera paint
• Paint roller
• Printmaking paper
• Work mat

How to do it:

1. Draw a design on the foam.
2. Carve the pattern using the blunt tool.
3. Apply paint with the roller.
4. Press onto paper.
5. Create multi-color compositions if desired.

Educational benefits:

• Learning mirror-image thinking
• Manual precision development
• Understanding printing techniques

Creative quilling

What you need:

• Quilling paper strips
• Rolling tool (a toothpick works too)
• Glue
• Cardboard base
• Ruler for measuring

Creative process:

1. Learn basic shapes:
   • Tight spirals
   • Drops
   • Hearts
2. Plan the project together
3. Make each element
4. Arrange the composition
5. Glue elements to the base

Stained glass mosaic

What you need:

• Safe faux stained glass (plastic)
• Glue
• Cardboard with a drawn design
• Tweezers for small pieces
• Work surface

Safety guidelines:

• Only use child-safe materials
• Always supervise
• Ensure a well-organized work area

Tips for art projects with older kids:

1. Developing planning skills:
   • Encourage sketching ideas
   • Teach material prep
   • Guide through step-by-step planning
2. Advancing artistic techniques:
   • Introduce new tools
   • Teach more complex methods
   • Promote experimentation
3. Fostering independence:
   • Support creative choices
   • Help with problem-solving
   • Teach self-evaluation

Final thoughts:

Art activities are not only a way to spend creative time, but most importantly, a key element of a child’s development. Remember these key principles:

1. Adjust difficulty level to the child’s age and skills
2. Always prioritize safety
3. Allow for experimentation and mistakes
4. Appreciate the creative process, not just the outcome
5. Be patient and supportive of artistic growth

Regular art activities:

• Foster creativity
• Teach patience
• Improve fine motor skills
• Build confidence
• Provide space for emotional expression

We encourage you to organize regular art activities, keeping in mind that each child develops at their own pace and has unique artistic preferences. The most important thing is to create a friendly environment where children feel safe and free in their creative expression.