Give kids a paintbrush and a box of watercolors, and they can stay busy for hours all on their own. But, did you know there are plenty of other ways to get creative with paint? You can paint with bubbles, use salt for texture, or even build a paint pendulum. They’re all here in this roundup of incredible painting ideas for kids!
1. Add salt for interesting texture
Salt painting is part art project, part science experiment. The hygroscopic quality of salt allows it to absorb liquid paint, creating cool textures and patterns.
Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands
2. Give trendy paint pouring a try
This has become one of the most popular painting ideas for kids and adults alike, and it’s as easy as it is fun! The abstract results are incredibly mesmerizing.
Learn more: S&S Blog
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3. Mix black glue with watercolors
Grab some black craft glue (or mix your own) and use it to outline a design. Then fill it in with soft watercolors for a gorgeous lesson in contrast.
Learn more: Arty Crafty Kids
4. Cool off with ice paint
Beat the summer heat with a batch of paint ice cubes. They’re lots of fun to play with outside in the sun!
Learn more: Growing a Jeweled Rose
5. Dot a field of tulips
Lots of painting ideas for kids use household items in place of brushes. Cotton swabs are terrific for exploring pointillism—also known as dot painting.
Learn more: Projects With Kids
6. Use a power drill to make spin art
This is one of the coolest painting ideas for kids we’ve seen! It’s as simple as sticking a piece of paper on a drill bit. (Supervise little ones with this, please.)
Learn more: Hello Wonderful/Drill Spin Art
7. Mix up a batch of puffy paint
Make your own puffy paint, which dries to a light foamy texture. Oh, and it only takes three ingredients!
Learn more: Sunlit Spaces
8. Explore the art of symmetry
The concept is simple, but the art you can create with it is endlessly fascinating! Get free printable outlines at the link to use with this project.
Learn more: Kid Minds
9. Create a stained glass effect with wax paper
Change the appearance of regular paint by using it with wax paper! This project idea uses bottle caps to make unique designs.
Learn more: Happy Hooligans
10. Make a masterpiece on foil
While you’re raiding the kitchen pantry, grab some aluminum foil and use it instead of paper for this painting idea inspired by the great Van Gogh.
Learn more: Messy Little Monsters
11. Clean up with bath paints
Use these in the classroom for an extra fun lesson on hand washing, or send the recipe home for families to mix up a batch for bath time.
Learn more: Modernly Morgan
12. Wrap yarn to make birch trees
Yarn wrapped around canvas creates the birch trees in this clever project. Use this technique for lots of other interesting patterns.
Learn more: The Pinterested Parent
13. Paint with pom poms
No paintbrushes? Make your own! Use clothespins to grab pom poms or cotton balls, dip them in paint, and away you go!
Learn more: Crafty Morning
14. Head outside with sidewalk chalk paint
Fill your summer with outdoor painting ideas for kids, like this DIY sidewalk chalk paint. (The secret ingredient is cornstarch.)
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
15. Pull yarn through paint
Yarn painting is another one of those trendy painting ideas for kids and adults, and once you try it, you’ll see why. The funky results are so fun to display!
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
16. Drip alcohol onto acrylic paint
Start by painting a rainbow of color onto a canvas and allowing it to dry. Follow it with a layer of black acrylic paint. Now comes the fun part: dip a brush in alcohol and fling it at the canvas, and the colors reappear like magic!
Learn more: Josie Lewis
17. Marbleize paper with shaving cream
Can you believe you can get these gorgeous results using shaving cream? It’s true! Learn how it works at the link.
Learn more: Happy Hooligans
18. Swing a paint-filled pendulum
Here’s another one of those painting ideas for kids that combines art and science. Construct a simple pendulum bucket and fill it with paint. Then send it swinging to see what sorts of designs you can create!
Learn more: Hello Wonderful/Painting Pendulum
19. Blow a straw-painted peacock
More painting ideas for kids that start in the kitchen! Use ordinary drinking straws to blow watercolors around the page, creating this glorious peacock.
Learn more: The Pinterested Parent
20. Fingerpaint, Monet-style
Start by using masking tape to outline a bridge. Then, dab color onto the page to create a Monet-style masterpiece. Finish by peeling the tape off to reveal the white bridge beneath.
Learn more: The Crafty Classroom
21. Create fork-painted monsters
These monsters are more sweet than scary, so they’re perfect for little hands to create … using forks!
Learn more: Our Kid Things
22. Find inspiration in nature
Take a nature walk and gather up leaves, flowers, grasses, and more. Then come home and use them to paint; they’ll create a wide variety of textures and patterns you can’t get from traditional brushes.
Learn more: Messy Little Monster
23. Try painting with bubbles
As if blowing bubbles isn’t fun enough, try adding paint! You’ll make the coolest art prints to display or even turn into note cards.
Learn more: Early Learning Ideas
24. Snap some rubber bands
Okay, this one is a bit messy, but so fun! Stretch rubber bands across a box or pan, brush on some paint, and snap to create.
Learn more: Craftulate
25. Roll a ball through paint
Rubber balls or marbles are ideal for this simple painting activity. Use washable paint and you can clean them off and return them to the toy box when you’re done.
Learn more: The Keeper of the Memories
26. Scrape paint across the page
Paint scraping is easy enough for little kids, but fun enough for everyone. Learn how it works at the link.
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
27. Make a mess with splat painting
Yeah, this one is definitely gonna make a mess. But your kids are going to have so much fun, you won’t mind wiping up afterward.
Learn more: Taming Little Monsters
28. Let gravity do the work
Let the paint flow down like rain with this easy painting project. Add some cotton balls for clouds when you’re done.
Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfect
29. Bring on the bubble wrap
Bubble wrap is always fun to play with, but when you add paint, you can make some seriously cool art.
Learn more: Art Crafty Kids
30. Craft coffee filter tutus
Add watercolors to coffee filters to make the prettiest, most delicate ballerina tutus ever!
Learn more: The Best Ideas for Kids
Ready for more ways to inspire creativity in kids? Check out the 12 Best Free Online Art Resources for Kids.
Plus, 25 Brilliant Rainbow Crafts and Activities.
