Learn how to do sandcasting in the sandbox! This backyard summer project is easy and fun for the whole family! Updated June 2023 Have you ever tried casting plaster shapes in sand? We’ve done sandcasting at the beach, digging a hole in the sand, lining it with shells, rocks, and other found treasures, then filling the hole with plaster. It’s fun when you need a break from the water and the result is a pretty awesome memento of your time at the beach. But if you aren’t able to get to the beach this summer, you can try sandcasting in the sandbox! It works wonderfully! Even better than at the bea ..read more

Glue batik is an easy and fun art activity for decorating your own fabric. Here’s how to do glue batik with kids. Updated May 2023 Have you ever tried glue batik? It may seem like a complicated process but is actually quite simple. It’s perfect for small projects, like eye pillows, fabric scraps, or flags! Here’s how to make your own glue batik flags! Photo by Jean Van’t HulHow to Do Glue Batik with Kids MATERIALS Plain white or natural fabric Elmer’s Gel Glue Wax paper Acrylic paint Nail brush or scrub brush INSTRUCTIONS Draw your design Use the glue to draw your design on your fabr ..read more

Making shaving cream marbled paper is an all-time favorite kids’ art activity. Here are some ideas for what to do with all that paper you end up with! Updated May 2023 We LOVE making shaving cream marbled paper. We love any marbling, really, but shaving cream marbling is especially fun (it involves shaving cream, after all) and beautiful liquid watercolors (the colors are just so vibrant)! We’ve done shaving cream marbling so many times over the years, both on our own and with friends, for no special reason and to make handmade gifts. We’ve also done it with a variety of paints. And the inevit ..read more

Kids will create their own colorful paintings and learn about artist Sonia Delaunay, with her strong colors and geometric shapes. Updated May 2023 Hello! I’m so excited to share this art project here with you today on The Artful Parent, one of my favorite blogs (and favorite person!) ever. I love throwing in a wee bit of art history with my kids in art class from time to time. It gives them a sense of awe and wonder when we talk about an artist who lived 100 years ago (especially a female artist)! Sonia Delaunay has always been an artist that I have adored. Her work covered my walls when I was ..read more

Try watercolor crayon resist on canvas panels for kids. Watch crayons melt on a heated canvas for a vibrant piece of artwork. Updated April 2023 This art project is a combination of some of our favorites. It is a union of melted crayon art and watercolor resist art. If you haven’t tried melted crayon artwork out yet, this is a great way to try it, as the canvases don’t get too hot. And watching the wax resist the watercolors is always such a cool effect to see! Photo by Andrea MartelleWatercolor Crayon Resist on Canvas MATERIALS Canvas panels (we often stock up on these at the dollar sto ..read more

Here are our favorite Mother’s Day crafts for preschoolers. These crafts are simple and fun for young children to make, and make lovely gifts for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, or special friends. Updated April 2023 Since Mother’s Day is coming up soon, we thought we’d put together some ideas for Mother’s Day gifts younger kids can make for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other mother figures in their lives. These craft ideas aren’t too complicated for kids to make but also look lovely when displayed or gifted for Mom. Photo by Rachel WithersMother’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers Phot ..read more

Here are some of our favorite watercolor ideas for kids. These projects are easy, fun for a variety of ages, and produce lovely works of art! Updated April 2023 Watercolors are easily one of our top favorite art materials for little kids! We use liquid watercolors and watercolor palettes. We also love these tempera paint pods that act like a watercolor (they’re pricey but the pods are large and last forever!). See also: The Best Paints for Kids For paper, we like watercolor paper, which is thick and doesn’t warp with the watercolors. If you want to get fancy, try this circular pad of watercolo ..read more

Create drawing ideas for kids with eye stickers! This is a fun and playful way to encourage drawing and creative visual expression. Updated April 2023 Have you tried eye stickers for your kids’ yet? It’s a favorite drawing prompt here at The Artful Parent–you never know what direction your child will take it! The next time you’re looking for something fast and simple to keep your child engaged–set out a tray, some stickers, and and a pencil. Photo by Jean Van’t Hul Creative Drawing Ideas with Eye Stickers MATERIALS Paper Eye stickers (or colored eye stickers) Drawing tools, such as mark ..read more

The best children’s books about gardening to inspire kids to get outside into nature and grow their own garden, big or small! Gardening with kids can be such a rewarding experience for everyone involved! It’s the perfect place to do some serious hands-on learning, exploring seasons, the life cycle, environmental caretaking, and so much more.   Whether your family is one of longtime gardeners or you’re digging in for the very first time, we think you’re going to love this list of fantastic gardening books for kids. A few how-tos, some wonderful stories, and a sprinkling of nonfiction ..read more

Sticker mandalas for kids is an easy and fun way to create mandala art using a favorite kids’ arts and crafts material. Updated April 2023 Mandala art for kids is made extra fun and easy with stationery store stickers. We’ve used them on different colored construction paper cut into circles and even combined the sticker art with drawn details on some of the mandala artworks. This would make a good art invitation, a simple transition art activity, an art activity that is good for mixed age groups, or a travel art activity. Photo by Jean Van’t HulEasy Sticker Mandalas for Kids MATERIALS Constr ..read more