This month the Kids Art Explorers have been enjoying a No Paint Brushes Allowed project. Creativity is encouraged when you set aside your everyday materials and try something different.
The Kids Art Explorers celebrate the process of art: trying new things, having a go, being daring, making mistakes. We’re interested in how things turn out but much more focused on the fun we have along the way. Here’s a whole year’s worth of ideas for the fun you could have if you tried painting with something other than a paint brush.
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Click each word to discover a fabulous kids painting idea. Pin this page so you can come back and get another idea when you need it. Print this checklist for kids painting ideas. Then go try one of the ideas with your kids!
Why paint with a paint brush when you could paint with a…?
1. Potato masher 2. drinking straw 3. finger 4. stacking cup
5. sponge 6. spaghetti 7. popcorn 8. cookie cutter
9. hand 10. pine cone 11. bubble wrap 12. celery 13. bubble wand
14. fishing rod 15. water bead 16. syringe 17. Easter egg
18. body 19. ketchup bottle 20. tooth brush 21. paint popsicle
22. Acorn 23. pipe cleaner 24. thumb 25. leaf 26. spatula
27. foot 28. nail brush 29. feather 30. slide 31. okra
32. rubber band 33. magnet 34. Q-tip 35. flower 36. party blower
37. tennis ball 38. elastic 39. potato 40. pan 41. packing peanut
42. scrubbing brush 43. carrot 44. marble 45. corn cob
46. bubble 47. styrofoam 48. egg carton 49. apple
50. pendulum 51. toy car 52. udder
Nurture art with the Art Spark resources!
My Art Spark resources will give you everything you need to start a joyful art practice with your children. There are two new ebooks and an online art course for your family or class. Use them and you’ll be bursting with enthusiasm and ideas that will help you make art happen. Click here to see more.
what an inspiring list! thanks for including our okra stamping! we’re fans of veggie printing here. we’ve done romaine roses (https://paintcutpaste.com/a-rose-by-any-other-romaine/) and some fabric painting with other veggies, too (https://paintcutpaste.com/food-flags/)
Nice collection of ideas! I love that there’s something for every week. We’ve also had fun with pipets (droppers), pine needles and shaving foam, too! Pinning to remember these 🙂 Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
Thanks so much for highlighting my leaf prints! I can’t wait to go through your ideas!!
Yeah! My boys want to paint every single morning. We need some new ideas to try!!
Wow, I’m inspired……can’t wait to try out some of these fantastic ideas! x
This list is INCREDIBLE. I love the lay out too…awesome! ~ Marnie
Thanks Marnie!
Such fun ideas.
One of our faves is using fly swats.
You can see it in action here;
https://livinginthelandofchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/05/we-all-knew-where-it-was-heading.html
What a list! It makes me smile… I pinned it 🙂 I love the attitude that with painting, anything goes… so fun!
Fab list! Will def try some of these!
Have you also tried squeezy bottles or trigger-spray bottles?
And how about soaking sponges in paint, placing them on paper and splatting with a wooden spoon – fab fun!
What a great list! You took me back to my childcare days! tahnks so much for sharing (and of course hosting) with the Kid’s Co-Op! How could anyone not be inspired!!!
Great list! One that I really enjoyed as a kid was using a marble. We just put the paper in a cardboard box, put paint on it and rolled marbles around until we got what we wanted. 🙂
wow!! such a great list… have you also tried to paint with comb and teethbrush ? so fun.
A toothbrush sounds fun!
What a great group of ideas! Love it!
Thanks Sugar Aunts!
So many great ideas. Good use of kitchen utensils.
I often do face-painting parties so I know a bit or two about it but this is a really fantastic list of ideas. Thanks for sharing. Great blog post!
Thank u awesome painting ideas
Awesome ideas thank u for that
WOW wat a great list of painting ideas i work in a nursery and im always using this an inspiration for activities wiv my little ones its great when ofsted can see the benefit of such activities for childrens learning and developemet.