Author: admin

Materials
Easel paper or large white construction paper (12×18)
Orange and yellow tempera paint
Sponge paint brushes
Black Sharpie
Scissors
Candy Corn (to use as a model)

Directions
Draw a candy corn shape on white paper using the Sharpie marker. Invite your child to examine a piece of candy corn.  What colors does she see? Invite your child to paint the same pattern of colors on the paper candy corn shape.  Preschool children will be able to stay within the marked spaces – yellow on the bottom portion and orange in the middle.  Toddlers may need some assistance.  You can help by placing two additional pieces of construction paper – one on top of what will be painted yellow, and one on top of the white portion of candy corn. Ask you child to start with orange paint, and paint the center section of the candy corn using the sponge paint brush.  Once the orange paint is dry, invite your child to paint the bottom portion using yellow tempera paint. Cut out the candy corn shape once it has dried completely. 

Invite your child to eat a few pieces of candy corn for a special treat!  This can be a good counting activity. 

2 cups flour 
1/2 cup salt 
4 tsp. cream of tarter 
2 cups water 
2 Tbsp. baby oil 
Food coloring (optional) 

Combine the dry ingredients in a sauce pan. Add the water and oil (and color, if desired) and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to thicken and forms a firm ball. Remove from heat and knead when cool enough. Store in an air-tight container.

Materials

1 piece of card stock with the first letter of your child’s name written on it
Blue dots stickers
Marker

Directions

Use the marker to draw the first letter in your child’s name.  Be sure to make it nice and big and write the upper case symbol.  Say the name of the letter as you draw it and your child’s name – “B for Brian”.  Give your child a sheet of removable blue sticker dots and encourage him to carefully place dots closely together on the linees of the letter. Cover all the lines.  Continue to review the letter name and who it represents. Encourage your child to say the name of the letter.

Extension Activities

• Look for the same letter around the room (books, magazines, toys, clothing)
• Trace the letter using an index finger
• Listen for the sound that the letter makes; come up with other words that start with the same sound
• Write the letter in sand, salt, or shaving cream

Some of our favorite fun art activities for toddlers:

• Paint with Balls – This is a fun activity that involves rolling balls dipped in paint. Try it indoors or outdoors!

• Drive Cars Through Paint – If your toddlers love cars, they will adore this hands-on activity! Grab their favorite cars and trucks, add paint, and roll them across paper.

• Make Prints From Bubble Wrap – The next time you have some leftover bubble wrap, invite your toddlers to make prints with it.

• Play with Homemade Lavender Scented Dough – Toddlers will love helping you make this calming play dough. Save for those moments when everyone needs to wind down.

• Paint with Rolling Pins – Wrap some of that bubble wrap around a rolling pin, add paint, and have fun!

• Mix Colors with Hands – This is a fun activity to do on the patio! Mix 2 colors of paint with the hands and watch how a new color is created.

• Have Fun in the Sandbox – Add various materials, such as a rain gutter, for endless outdoor fun.

• Stamp Circles with Paper Tubes – This activity is super simple, yet so much fun! All you need is a recycled paper tube and some paint.

Materials

Pinecone – we had a really big one!
Birdseed – we used a birdseed mixture that had peanuts, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, and mealworms – a woodpecker’s favorite!
Peanut butter
Bacon Grease
String or yarn for hanging

Directions

Mix all ingredients together. Use about the same amount of peanut butter and bacon grease – enough to hold the birdseed together and stick to the pinecone.  Once the pinecone is covered with the birdseed mixture, tie a piece of string around the top and hang on a low tree branch or on a birdfeeder stand.  Identify and observe the birds that come to eat.

Materials

A variety of leaves that are pliable and whole
White paper
Crayons

Instructions

Collect a variety of leaves that are pliable and whole.
Place one leaf at a time on a hard surface with the leaf “veins” up.
Place a white sheet of paper on top of the leaf.
With the side of a crayon, rub over the top of the leaf, the more pressure used, the better! You may need to secure the leaf by pressing on it with your fingers as you color.

You will see the leaf appearing on your paper.
Repeat the process with other leaves and colors.

Materials

Celery stalks
Food Coloring
Glasses with water
Knife