These easy art activities for kids will keep your little ones entertained and open their minds to the world of creativity. The even better part? Each of these activities is simple — and so much fun!
In this article:
Super Simple Art Activities For Kids Anyone Can Do
Those two words – “I’m bored” – have to be some of the most frustrating words for a mom to hear. I know the feeling all too well! How can they actually be bored?
One day I’m going to look back and miss these times when my kids are young, but it’s ok to admit that we need a break sometimes. It’s easy to want to hand them a screen, but with just a little bit more effort, I can give my kids an art activity that will keep them busy and be educational. Double win!
Besides, giving your kids some activities that they can do independently is good for everyone. These art activities will keep your kids busy whether you need a breather or have some office work you really need to do!
Art Supplies To Keep On Hand
Keeping as many of these things in your house as possible lets you set up art projects when you need them, rather than having to run to the store at the last minute. These are the most important art supplies that your kids will need.
- Paint – acrylic, watercolors, paint pens
- Paintbrushes – foam, various sizes of paintbrushes
- Canvas
- Mod podge
- String/yarn
- Glue
- Scissors
- Beads
- Paper – scrapbook, printer paper, cardstock
- Crayons
- Colored pencils
Super Easy and Creative Art Activities For Kids
These art activities will keep your kids busy and give them a creative outlet at the same time. Take a few of these ideas and make them your own. I’ll share some ways you can change the activities up so they feel completely different.
Painting
There are so many different techniques to learn and things for kids to paint. All you need to keep on hand is paint, paintbrushes, and paper or canvases of some sort. You can even keep different types of paint such as watercolors, acrylic, or something homemade.
Try any of these ideas with them:
- Sponge painting – use sponges to paint creative shapes and textures
- DIY foam painting – dye some shaving cream for a fun new texture
- Paint rocks
- Watercolor stencils
- Paint picture frames
- Paper towel tube painting
- Do an online painting class
To make clean up easier, set the canvas or objects you are painting on some newspapers, and just throw the newspapers away when you’re finished.
Here my daughter tried to use paper towel empty tubes, I shaped them in different, well, shapes. And get some watercolor, and she went stamping!
Collage Projects
Whether you call it decoupage or collage, this is a really fun activity for everyone from preschoolers to older kids (and even adults!).
You can decoupage. almost. anything.
This might make a bigger mess, but it will keep them busy for a long time. Plus, it’s really inexpensive too!
You just need some magazines, mod podge glue, and something to stick the collage to.
One idea is to let your kids decorate a shoebox where they can store their favorite memories. Another fun project could be buying a cardboard letter from the craft store and let them decorate it with a collage, and then hang it up in their room.
Here are a few more ideas.
- Decoupage a birdhouse – use fabric scraps to decoupage a birdhouse
- Wood letters
- Vision boards
- Art collage on canvas
- Photo scrapbook – collage photos from a vacation or favorite memory in a scrapbook
Coloring and Drawing
Coloring and drawing are steady standbys, but how do you make it new and different?
Create challenges (who can use the most colors?) or put a bunch of random words in a basket and pick a random word for them to draw.
They can even have games where they start a drawing and another person finishes it.
String Art
There are actually tons of things you can make with just some string and nails or popsicle sticks. String art is a really popular craft idea!
You can show your kids how to weave some string around some nails on a piece of wood (or canvas) and then hang it on the wall. There are lots of project examples and free templates online for string art projects.
Check out this cute heart-shaped string art, and also this sailboat string art.
You can also use string to create friendship bracelets, keychains, or weaving crafts.
Self-Portraits
Encourage your kids to use any type of art supplies they choose to create their own self-portraits. They can use paints on canvas, draw with colored pencils, or use an art program on a tablet.
This is a fantastic way for your kids to experience self-reflection and express how they view themselves.
Slime Crafts
Yes, slime is still a really fun activity for kids and there are always new ideas being published online.
Ask your kids if there are any slime videos they want to try and mimic at home.
Upcycle Things
Look for items around your house that you were thinking of throwing away. How can you turn those into an art project? If you aren’t sure, ask Google! For example, a quick search for “old clothes art projects” will give you a ton of ideas.
Almost anything in your house can be turned into an art activity.
Try one of these next time.
- Decorate tin cans
- Turn tissue boxes into monsters
- Turn soda bottles into wind chimes
- Upcycle cereal boxes into board games
- Make a hanging decoration from an egg carton
Bead Projects
Beads are another really fun thing to use in art activities for kids.
SAFETY FIRST: Start young kids with large beads and older kids can use the smaller, more intricate ones.
Use beads to decorate other projects or create activities entirely centered around them. Here are some things you can make with beads.
- Jewelry
- Keychains
- Dream Catchers
- Mobiles
- Fairy Wands
- Christmas ornaments
Bookmarks
Your kids can make bookmarks out of almost anything. Grab some ribbons and paint and create any kind of bookmark they want.
Older kids can even turn a vintage book into a bookmark too!
This is another great time for them to upcycle too. Cut up an old cereal box and decorate your own bookmarks. Cover it in stamps, stickers, or use paint.
DIY Puppets
There are so many things you can use to create puppets – from old socks to paper bags. The best thing is that, in the end, they can even plan out their own puppet show and perform it!
This is the perfect rainy-day craft when kiddos are stuck inside for long periods of time.
Nature Scrapbook
Gather different leaves, flowers, small sticks or seeds from the backyard. Grab some glue and paper.
Invite your kids to make a drawing with those items, make a butterfly with 2 leaves, make a bird-shaped, and so on.
They can even paint the leaves before they arrange and stick them onto the paper.
Make A Book
Finally, encourage your kids to make their own book. Grab some printer paper and a stapler and let their imaginations fly. Let your older kids watch a tutorial on how to create an animated flipbook.
Children of any age will have fun making their own comic books or an illustrated storybook.
There are even services out there that will print your child’s book so you can keep it forever!
Tips On Art Activities For Kids
When you try to set up art activities for your kids, keep it simple. Kids have a knack for taking seemingly mundane things and making them magical! Let their imaginations have full reign.
Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way that make art time with kids a lot more fun for them and easier for you.
Give Kids Independence
Most importantly, kids want to have the freedom to make their own choices. Art is one of those areas where they (within reason) can make choices and see what happens.
If you are afraid of messes, set up a safe place that’s easy to clean up – like a patio or back deck. Spread out butcher paper or plastic tarp that you can throw away in the end.
Encourage Them to Create Something They Can Show Off
Kids will be more likely to want to do the art activities if they get to show them off when they are done. That’s why keychains or canvas art is a popular choice for kids.
Make It Fun
If kids have fun doing art projects, they will want to do more of them. Pick out projects that are kinda silly and make them laugh.
Make art time a fun time for everyone!
Related Posts To Easy Art Activities For Kids
You might also want to check these out next:
- Easy Pompoms Craft for Preschoolers
- Ridiculously Simple Home Activities For Toddlers
- Summer Activities For Kids With Minimal Preparation
- Quick Prep Activities At Home For Preschoolers
- 20 Easy STEM Activities for Preschoolers
Have fun! So which one of the craft project you’d want to try first?
![What is The Best Backpacks for Kids [2019] – from Kindergarten, Elementary, and Beyond](https://funmathactivitiesforkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/What-is-the-best-backpack-for-kids-150x150.jpg)
Leave a Reply