Creative activity indoors
Painting with children: Make it fun for everyone with these tips and ideas
Painting with children: With these ideas there will be no boredom
© Oliver Berg / Picture Alliance
Whether during the holidays or at any other time: painting with children is an activity that stimulates creativity and keeps the little ones away from the screen. We have tips and ideas.
It’s raining or the holidays are coming up or something else is making the little ones bored – how can you? Is it best to keep children busy (indoors)? How about you paint with your children: This is fun for a lot of people and there are lots of ways to keep the kids entertained. We have ideas and tips.
Painting with children: At what age can you start?
As soon as children no longer put everything in their mouths and manage to hold the pencil, you can start painting with children. Wax crayons or thicker colored pencils that you don’t have to press forcefully onto the paper to see something are particularly suitable for beginners.
Of course, with very small children it is not worth trying out different techniques. The best way to do this is with one big piece of paper start and simply let the children doodle so that they get a feel for painting. And it’s best to stick with it so that there aren’t any doodles on the paper.
Ideas for painting with children
Only on one piece of paper Of course, painting quickly becomes boring – even if you paint with different pencils or colors. That’s why it’s worth not only painting freely with children, but also thinking about different approaches and goals. These ideas are worthwhile for smaller children:
- Painting with stencils: So that smaller children don’t just doodle aimlessly on paper, cardboard, etc., you can either make stencils beforehand or buy some and place them on the paper. The little ones can then color these specifically – or paint around them wildly to create patterns.
- Coloring pages or coloring books: In order to have clues as to where the children should paint, it is also worth using coloring pictures or books with funny and well-known motifs. This way the little ones have a goal and can always start new pictures with books so that it doesn’t get boring. Books with effects (in which structures become visible when you paint over them with paint) are also a great antidote to boredom and ensure that children enjoy painting and have fun doing it.
- Pictures with hand and footprints: You can also take great pictures with hand and footprints, especially with small children. Of course, these pictures are also great for hanging up, as a souvenir or as a gift for friends and family. When painting such pictures you should of course work with large surfaces so that nothing goes wrong.
With older children you can also paint together and decorate the apartment with the finished works. These ideas may be worthwhile:
- Paint by numbers: Something that many adults currently enjoy is something you can do together with your older children: Paint by numbers. There are suitable pictures for every age that are great to hang up in the home. The children are then motivated to make an effort and stick with it to complete it.
- Window pictures: Window pictures are also suitable for painting with children. Special pens can be easily removed – but they also last for a while. For example, you can paint fancy lettering or real pictures, perhaps appropriate to the season. But hand and footprints are also possible.
- Seasonal decoration: Seasonal decorations can also be painted with older children: For example, different pictures can be glued together in an attractive collage and hung on the wall. You can also work with colorful cardboard, wax crayons, watercolors, decorations such as cotton wool or glitter and other things. The main thing is that it’s fun and has a goal – then boredom doesn’t stand a chance!
Which paints and pens are best for painting with children?
Wax crayons
They are particularly suitable for beginners Wax crayons, because you don’t have to press them forcefully onto the paper to see color. The pens also provide beautiful effects and the colors come into their own. For older children, normal colored pencils are of course also suitable.
Finger paints
Also Finger paints are suitable for small children so that they get a feel for painting. Finger paints are also great for experiencing and feeling – and the results are usually really beautiful, colorful eye-catchers.
Watercolors
For older children are Watercolors, which you put on paper with a brush, are more suitable. With them you can quickly paint large areas and create great effects.
felt-tip pens
Also more suitable for older children: felt-tip pens. You can paint more delicately with them, so they are more suitable if you want to paint figures and real pictures with motifs with the children.
What should you keep in mind when painting with children?
Of course, you should supervise children when they are painting – especially when they are small. On the one hand, small children can potentially swallow pen parts, on the other hand Of course, they also like to paint outside of paper, cardboard, etc. Parents should also make sure that children do not walk around with a pen in their mouth, otherwise they could swallow it or get seriously injured if they fall.
For children of kindergarten age and above, it is worth having their own painting corner in the room, for example on the desk or in a play area on the floor. This way they know that they can try everything there – but only there. Are particularly great Desks with chalk board or something similar that you can also paint with chalk. Otherwise, you should sit down at the table with the children so that nothing goes wrong. And you should have enough space to spread out your utensils properly.
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