Creativity with Toddlers!
Process art is child-directed, choice-driven, and celebrates the experience of discovery. The final product is always unique and the focus lies in the creation or process, not the outcome. Product art is adult driven and there’s a specific outcome in mind and we're seeking a final product. There’s usually a wrong and a right way to do it. This kind of art can set kids up for frustration, disappointment and shame - it's not really supportive of setting them up for a positive relationship with art.
The ideas are limitless:
•Edible finger paint like yogurt on a baking sheet or highchair tray or on sticks and rocks. Also on other body parts - feet are fun
•Water as paint on chalk boards or concrete, or big glass windows
Rolling items through paint like cars, animals, balls and watch the tracks they make
•Stamping: all kinds - try veggies, paper towel rolls, rubber stamps
•Contact Paper and then stick on pieces of paper, sequins, pom poms, leaves, etc. If you apply a top sheet so that all the sticky sides are covered you can hang it up in the window or look through it on a lightbox
•Stickers - be careful they don't eat them
•Big wax Crayons- I like the big shapes for little ones so they can grab them
•Homemade play dough - sticking things in like sticks, shells, rocks because they may not be able to mold it just yet and you can explore impressions things can make in the dough. Also fun to play with knives and other equipment for rolling and cutting
•Spray bottles and food dye or nontoxic, washable liquid watercolor or just use water and spray the snow, rocks, etc.
•Butcher paper and cardboard boxes make a larger surface area for kids to use. It might be really hard to stay on a small piece of paper. Think big! Glass doors, bathtubs, driveways, etc.
Art is messy, that's the idea. Please try to allow them to fully experience the materials. If you're worried about the mess, go outside or take it to the bathtub!! It's much easier to let go.
Art is a perfect way to talk about color and color mixing. There are many opportunities for cause and effect and experimentation which we know they're all about! Keep your expectations realistic and be careful not to spend too much time and money for a short burst of attention. That would be expected at this age. Keep it affordable: your recycle bin is FULL of fun art supplies and many activities can be created with diy recipes with things you have at home. Always be sure to use nontoxic supplies with young children.