6 Fun Painting Ideas for Kids

Painting with kids is not only a great way to keep them entertained, but is also the perfect way to encourage creativity. Plus, there are endless options of crafting activities for them to do that spans all interests and age groups.

1. Mermaid Scale Painted Rocks

Summer presents the perfect time to go outside and collect rocks from your yard. After that’s been done, put the rocks to good use! Clean and dry the rocks thoroughly, and then use acrylic paint to cover the rocks completely in one or two shades. Blending shades of blue together gives a cool ocean look to the rock, but really you and your kiddos can pick any color you like. Let the paint dry completely, and then use a metallic marker to draw mermaid scales over the paint. Finish off the rocks with a layer of mod podge and let it dry. The finished product makes for a fun decoration that mermaid-obsessed kids will love.

2. Nature Paint Brushes

This project is all in the creation of your own, natural paint brushes! The great thing about this idea is that it gets kiddos to explore the great outdoors. Start by collecting flowers or leaves that can be used as a “brush”. Then, use twine or string to attach these findings to the end of a twig. Then, use these “brushes” to create art and revel at the different strokes and textures that each natural finding creates.

3. Painted Toast

Turn breakfast into a paint project! This really makes a run-of-the-mill piece of toast come alive, wowing kids. Simply mix milk with different food coloring colors in small ramekins. Let kids use a new paintbrush to add colors onto toast in whatever design they please. Then, pop the bread in the toaster, and just like that they have an edible and colorful breakfast all in one.

4. Squirt Gun Painting

Another fun painting activity to be done outside is squirt gun painting. Plus, this one is really easy to set up. Simply add liquid watercolor paint to the body of a small squirtgun rather than regular water. Then, set up a canvas or piece of paper against a background that you don’t mind getting hit with some paint. Then, let kids go crazy squirting the paint at the target. They’ll have a ball and you’ll end up with a unique piece of their art.

5. Spice Painting

This is a fun sensory activity for kids that brings the spices in your pantry to life, letting them use them for a painting project and allowing them to smell their delicious scents at the same time. Put water in different jars and containers and sprinkle a little of each spice into each one of them, allowing them to sit overnight.

Cinnamon, ginger, pepper, and paprika are some good ones to use, but it’s really up to you and what you have on hand. After they sit in the water, the color of the spices will bleed into the water, creating a paint of sorts. Then let kids use them as traditional paints to create art and enjoy the scents and texture created with this DIY paint.

6. Marble Painting

Make use of an age-old kids toy for this project: marbles. You’ll need marbles, box tops, paper, kid-friendly paint, brushes, water, spoons, and something with sections (like a muffin tin or egg carton) to hold the paint. Once you have all your materials, drop one marble in each color of paint in the sectioned off tin or carton that you’re using. Have kiddos use a spoon to move the marbles around in each colored paint.

Give each kid a piece of paper to paint on that’s taped down to the inside of a box top. Then, kids can scoop out the paint covered marbles with the spoons and place them on the paper. Then allow them to gently move the box top around to allow the marbles to roll all over the paper, creating a path of paint that follows its movement. Have them repeat the process with as many marbles as they want until they’re happy with their work of art.

The possibilities for painting projects with kids are endless, but know that whatever you choose will be fun, memorable, and is sure to spark creativity.