Seeking Activities

Hi, When my son was one (he is 2 1/2 now) he used to lay on his back and paint with his feet. I would tape a piece of paper on a mirror and hold him up at his shoulder level so he could move his feet in the paint and move them on the paper and watch himself. He seemed to love it. Also finger painting and painting with small sponges and sponge brushes.

My 21 mo son loves to draw on his blank spiral bound sketch pad with his washable markers - many times a day. At first, I regulated the markers by letting him choose one and then replacing the cap when he finished with it before choosing another color. He started replacing the cap and now manages all 11 markers by himself.

I also let him play with finger paints sometimes. I tape down a big piece of freezer paper and squirt some blobs for him. He's not a big fan of dirty hands, so this does not last too long.

I think its important to let him do his art freely. I do not interfere or instruct him (except to tell him that markers must be used on the paper). Just observe, inquire, and praise. Its awesome to watch his drawings progress from single color scribbles to multi-colored shapes and various lines.

We also play with play-doh together. My son is gluten intolerant, so I found a recipe for gluten-free play-doh online. He likes to lick it.

Have fun!

if your child is under two sit him/her in a high chair and do edible art with them.
finger paint with pudding, make sculptures out of stiff instant potatoes, and towers of jello shapes.

Hi T.,
I know you posted a while ago but your question got me thinking about doing art projects with my daughter (19 months). Contemplating pudding/baby food finger painting is as far as I've gotten but my little one seems to be ready for art projects.

So, I just found a great book for inspiration at a yard sale. It's called Great Explorations: 100 Creative Play Ideas for Parents and Preschoolers from Playspace. (Playspace is the little area at the Children's Museum of Boston that offers little projects for toddler visitors.) The book has great ideas for simple art projects using inexpensive household items, tips on reducing/preventing too much mess. They also have sections on science, seasonal projects, make-believe, cooking, music, etc. You can probably find it at your local public library.
Best,
D.

I know this was posted a while ago but for those who are reading it for the first time might find it helpful: With my son and the kids at the day care, I would do water painting (regular paint brush and cup of water) outside on the sidewalk and then it evaporates and they painted more and really enjoyed it - Plus not much preparation time and best of all EASY clean up! May get a little wet but it'll dry not stain ;) also sensory activities, playing with a bin of water with the sand toys, playing with pieces of ice keeps even 6month olds interest - and then you'll find they take to the melted water- so you can also pour a little amount of water on the tray to splash and move around, play or paint w/ cool whip/pasta/applesauce/different textured foods that you could even add food coloring to (don't worry that it might possibly teach them to play with their food, it will be apparent it is a play time and they can distinguish it from meal time - each it's presented and encouraged differently, but still okay to eat at play time, so us moms aren't more stressed when we are suppose to be having fun too!), bubble wrap stomping - just tape down the big bubble wrap and get to stomping :) kids love making noise!, music play - pots pans, bottles, anything doesn't have to be an actual instrument just something to make noise with ---all these things might not be "art" but for a child it's an experience and just as productive for their new little minds, all of these are cause and effect - don't be afraid to introduce puzzles to them too. There was a girl at the day care that was putting them (at a 2yr level) back together. of course markers or pencils are great and every once in a while try some paint and playdough out if you are in the mood <3 they eventually get that it's not for eating. happy playing! (-G.'s daughter :D)

T.,

I don't know what age infant means to you but when my daughter was 1 year I started giving her colored non-toxic pencils while in her high chair and a piece of paper that I mostly had to hold and for her to scribble. She would eat the crayons so colored pencils even if she put them in her mouth worked best.
Also to work on fine motor skills you can play with play-doh. Again they will want to eat it. I show my daughter how to roll it into a ball or a worm. We use plastic utensils to cut it and make 2 pieces. We push her hand into a flat piece to get her hand imprint. I try and make her squeeze it for hand strength.
Finger paints she starting to get into as well as the paint books that you just have to dip your paint brush in water that the paint is already on the paper.

Of course I didn't start any of these activities til my daughter was 1 year old.

L. M

Depends on how you define art. I take a broad view of the arts. When my son was an infant we would go to galleries and look at art on the wall, listen to music, dance in my arms, shake musical instruments. Also, he would "finger paint" with pudding, baby food, etc. If you don't want your child to play with food at meal time, then do that activity away from feeding areas. It's a good, albeit messy, tummy time activity. Just be aware of signs of over stimulation.
I guess it depends in the age too.