Toddler Art Party Ideas


Do you want to throw an art party for your toddler but
don't want to deal with the mess of 20 two year olds running amok?

I've compiled a round-up of 10 art activities that would be fun for toddlers
and (mostly)
mess free for parents!

Contact Paper Collages
So simple! Just lay out some contact paper sticky side up and different collage materials to stick.
You can use pieces of tissue paper, foam shapes, glitter and even items from a nature scavenger hunt.
If it's flat and will stick, it will work.

 Contact Paper Nature Collage
The Chocolate Muffin Tree

Dilly-Dali Art

Color Mixing in Plastic Bags
Toddlers will love to squish the paint around and mix up the colors! 
You can even use colored gelatin  or hair gel instead of paint 
and contact paper instead of plastic bags

No Mess Color Mixers
No Time For Flash Cards

 (with contact paper)
Dilly-Dali Art

Spin Art
Salad spinner spin art is such a fun activity 
and pretty much mess free thanks to the lid on the salad spinner.
Just squirt the paint in, put on the lid and spin away!
Even if the salad spinner is too difficult to spin,
 toddlers will still enjoy squirting the paint in and seeing the big reveal
If you don't have a salad spinner, don't fret! You can still make spin art!

Salad Spinner Spin Art
a bit of sunshine

Paper Plate Spin Art
Teach Preschool

Painting with Water
Water, paint brushes and a chalkboard is all you need for this activity. 
If you don't have a large chalkboard you can always make one with a sheet of plywood and some spray on chalkboard paint!
You can also fill some of those bottles that have sponge tips with water and use those to "paint" with

Painting with water on the chalkboard
The Artful Parent

Water Painting on Colored Chalk
The Imagination Tree

Painting with Food Coloring
There are a lot of different ways you can do this
You can paint with just the food coloring or mix it together with
milk, frosting, candy melts, evaporated milk, or egg.
You can paint the cookies before or after baking.
If you are scared of a food coloring mess, you can use the markers with edible ink instead.
If you don't want to use cookies try bread!

Cooking up rainbow toast
Teach Preschool

Painted Sugar Cookies
The Chocolate Muffin Tree

 Homemade Play Dough
Play dough is great because it's relatively mess free and the possibilities are endless.
Making your own play dough allows you to make a large batch quite cheaply
and you'll be able to add whichever colors and/or scents you'd like!
Don't forget all the little doodads you can stick into the play dough

What's so great about play dough?
The Imagination Tree

Dilly-Dali Art

Bead Threading
Keeping little hands busy is one of the main goals of any party host(ess)
Having a beading station will help with that!
You can use chunky wooden, foam, or plastic beads,
colored pasta and even cut up straws to set out for threading 
(under supervision)
If you are concerned about choking, here are some great alternatives.
How great would it be to have toilet paper tubes set up with foam stickers for decorating
and pool noodle beads in a variety of colors would be very appealing!

Baby Bling!
No Time For Flash Cards

Big Bead Threading
I Can Teach My Child

Pipe Cleaner Sculptures
Creating sculptures with pipe cleaner is a great way to explore the process of sculpting and working in 3D.
You can set up for this activity in a snap!
If you find the tips of the pipe cleaners a bit sharp, just fold the ends over and give them a twist.

Wire Sculptures for Kids 
The Artful Parent

Discovery Box 6: Pipe Cleaners
The Imagination Tree

Body Tracing
I haven't met a toddler yet that doesn't like body tracing.
Set up a tracing station, let kids decorate and then take themselves home as a favor!
Anything can be used to decorate 
(depending on how messy you want to get),
 markers, crayons, paint, and stickers

body tracing
let the children play

Dilly-Dali Art

Tape Art
My toddler loves sticking tape to things. 
I bet a group of toddlers would have a bunch of fun making tape collages!
Once again, simple materials and set-up.
Tape and paper.
I think any tape will do, but colorful masking tape would be great!
Masking Tape Collages
Share & Remember

Washi Tape Art with Printed Masking Tape
The Artful Parent

There you have it! 10 art activities that are appropriate for toddlers and can be easily set up for a group.
If the thought of a messy party turned you off, I hope these activities will make you reconsider!
Art doesn't always have to equal messy
and, if you haven't tried these ideas with your toddler yet, give them a try!
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12 comments:

  1. [email protected] Connections for KidsFriday, April 06, 2023

    What a great collection of ideas for our little guys. Pinned for future reference. :) Kristi

    ReplyDelete
  2. Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin TreeFriday, April 06, 2023

    Thanks for putting us on the list! What fun activities!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chrissy @ The Outlaw Mom BlogFriday, April 06, 2023

    All wonderful ideas - thanks so much for compiling and sharing them! We are working on plans for my son's upcoming 2nd birthday party and we can use a lot of these.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fantastic activities for 'littlies'! Would love to use them for an arty party! I did an art party for my three year old last birthday and we did painting art canvas' and making something from small ball of clay!
    Lisa Butler- Let's Create and Make

    ReplyDelete
  5. [email protected]{ShareandRemember}Saturday, April 07, 2023

    What a great post! Glad to be included!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great collection of ideas! I'm always amazed at how entertaining painting with water can be :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is an absolutely fantastic group of ideas! It makes me want to hold an art play date asap!

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  8. Great list - contact paper art was the first art project I ever did with my girls. These are all wonderful ideas for an art party. (will go pin!)

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  9. These are awesome ideas! I want to do every single one of them! sharing :)

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  10. Wow! These are some great (and inspirational) ideas! Thanks!

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  11. Loving these ideas! Pinning these for future reference! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. thanks for sharing.. these are great!

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