Picture it: your sweet toddler swimming in a too-large T-shirt that serves as their smock, happily toting around crayons, paintbrushes, and tons of other art supplies. Along with having a great time, toddler activities surrounding art help little ones in multiple ways.
How Does Art Benefit Toddlers?
Art is one of the most powerful tools for a toddler’s development, offering more than just an outlet for messy play. When toddlers engage in artistic adventures, they explore their creativity, build critical thinking skills, and develop cognitively, socially, and physically.
One of the most significant benefits of toddler activities that involve art is its impact on social-emotional development. Art offers children and adults alike a means of self-expression, letting them communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in ways that go beyond words. This is especially important for toddlers since they often do not yet possess the words necessary to effectively communicate.
Art for toddlers also promotes social interaction when done in a group setting. Toddlers can learn to share their materials and take turns when working with others, which helps lay the foundation for positive social interactions later on.
Art for Toddlers
Between the ages of 12 and 24 months old, art is wildly important and can help children develop fine motor skills and encourage sensory exploration. For instance, holding a paintbrush helps young toddlers strengthen their grip and hand-eye coordination, both of which are important for future writing skills.
The best toddler activities for those under two years old involve different sensory experiences. Finger painting with non-toxic paints allows little ones to get their hands dirty and create some of their very first masterpieces. Other toddler activities that involve art could be things like playing with rainbow rice, making themed sensory bins, and simply coloring with crayons.
As little ones get closer to the older toddler years, they will become more intentional in their artistic abilities, and you can start incorporating more things. Recognizing shapes, colors, and patterns in their artwork helps to work on their critical thinking skills.
Preschoolers and Art Projects
By the time little ones reach two to three years old, they are ready for more complex art activities that support creativity, language development, and social skills. At this stage, learning objectives may include expanding vocabulary as toddlers describe their creations or talk about the colors and shapes they are using. Collaborative toddler activities can be introduced here as they learn to work with other kids instead of just alongside them.
Preschool Art Activities to Try at Home
Giving a few different materials helps them to explore different sensory experiences. Additionally, using safety scissors and glue are important skills to master around this age. Give your little ones some magazines and even old, ripped-up clothing pieces to cut, arrange, and glue as they please.
One of our favorite activities for preschool-aged kids is collage-making. Provide toddlers with a variety of materials, like:
- Paper scraps
- Stickers
- Fabric
Playing with clay is another great idea for preschoolers because they are typically past the age of putting everything in their mouths and can experience clay without eating it. Playdough helps build hand strength and fine motor skills while letting their imaginations run wild. You can also incorporate tools like rolling pins, cookie cutters, and other household materials for toddler activities like this one.
Using Art to Connect with Your Toddler
Above all else, one of the best benefits of art for toddlers is the ability to connect with each other and with you. Creating beautiful pictures and projects is great, but learning to appreciate art and its ability to bring people together is the real magic for little ones.