Toddler Art Archives – The Salty Mamas

Christmas Tree Print Making for Kids (Featuring Bubble Wrap!)

November 19, 2021November 30, 2018 by Salty Jaymi

We are getting into the Christmas with toddlers BIG TIME over here. My kids are all about Christmas, all the time. From the Elf on the Shelf to writing (and rewriting. And rewriting) letters to Santa, they’ve got the holidays on the brain in a big way.

It’s extended all the way into our art time as well. I can’t bust out a pot of green paint without them painting a Christmas tree, or the playdough without it becoming a present or ornament or cookie for Santa.

So when I opened one of my (THOUSAND) Amazon packages from my Black Friday shopping and saw that it included this green bubble wrap, I knew just what to do with it- turn it into a process based Christmas art project for toddlers (which just so happens to include an ADORABLE product for you, too).

If you’re kids are as into the holidays as ours are, we know they’ll love this Christmas tree print-making activity using bubble wrap. Read on for the instructions on how to make it happen!

Make Learning Exciting with Color Activities for Toddlers

February 13, 2021August 15, 2018 by Salty Jaymi

child sorting candy by color; text overlay: fun ways to teach kids colors

Wondering how to teach your 2 year old their colors? Or 3, 4, or 5 year old? Whatever your child’s age, they’re going to love these color activities for toddlers (featuring a FREE printable color activity!), written by an early education teacher.

I don’t know how it happened, but my daughter somehow knew all of her colors by two years old. I don’t remember doing a lot of kids’ learning activities with her- my older daughter just picked up the color names on her own, and I didn’t think much of it.

So when my son didn’t know his colors at a few months past two, I panicked, thinking he was way behind.

Well, it turns out he’s not.

So the first step for us was accepting that we did not have a problem, by any stretch of the imagination. But it did also make me realize I needed a plan for how to teach my 2 year old their colors, and as a result, I’ve been making a greater effort to teach him.

So if you are ready to start teaching colors to your child, we’ve got some The average child should be able to name at least one color by age three.

Want to Be a Cool #BoyMom? Try This Toddler Boys’ Craft!

February 1, 2021April 25, 2018 by Salty Jaymi

Want to convince your toddler that art can be fun? Try this toddler boys’ art project guaranteed to get your little guy (or gal) engaged, learning, and having fun with our muddy truck process art for kids.

Because I am both a lazy mom and a former preschool art teacher, I make a point to do process-based art projects for toddlers at least a few times a week. I just can’t with a ton of prep, so keeping the materials simple is the way to go for us. And I want my kids to express themselves, but let’s be honest- I’d really love to have some cute crafts for toddlers to hang on my fridge, too.

So imagine my dismay when Abe took the beautiful colors I presented him during a free-painting session and mixed them all into a muddy brown. But that muddy paint got me thinking, and I quickly set up this toddler boys’ art project that even my rough and tumble little guy loved.

Add to it some toddler sensory play, and you have yourself an hour full of fun toddler activities without much prep at all. And you’ll check a few items off of your Toddler Daily To-Do List while you’re at it!

This project has three parts to it, but you could easily choose one or two to focus on and it would still be a hit. First, you’ll let your toddler mix colors. Then you’ll engage in some hands-on painting with unconventional materials. Finally, you’ll finish up with some soapy, sudsy fun. Read on for the full details!

Valentine’s Day Marbled Print Art

February 1, 2021January 22, 2018 by Salty Jaymi

Celebrate the day of love with this Valentine’s day marbled art activity. Toddler, preschoolers, and kids alike will all love this process based Valentine’s Day art for kids, featuring swirled paint, shaving cream, and clean-messy fun.

As a preschool art teacher, I have to say that I strongly favor process-based art for kids. The research all shows that the true benefit of art for kids comes from the process of making something- mixing colors, experimenting with lines and swirls, and getting hands-on experience with creative expression.

Your average Valentine’s Day art for kids, with their prescribed colors and shapes and outcomes, are typically not in line with process-based activities.

But.

I’m also a mother. I want some art for my dang refrigerator, gosh darn it.

So I’ve created this fun, process based Valentine’s day marbled art that will end with a product that you can display. By limiting the colors you present the kids with (pink, purple, and red for example), you can ensure that this process based Valentine’s Day art for kids stays on theme- and the kids will be none the wiser.

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