Make rubbings, gloop, and fluffy paint

Kids art projects: Make rubbings from surfaces
Image by Laura Fantini

With the international lockdown continuing, thinking of things to do at home can be tough! This post features three kids art projects you can do at home:

  • Exploring surfaces around the house (and make rubbings of them)
  • Messy play with gloop
  • Experimentation with fluffy paint

All three of these ideas were uploaded to Instagram as part of the #quarantineplayideas hashtag. In this, people share simple and creative activities that families can do at home.

Exploring surfaces around the house by Laura Fantini

Kids art projects: Make rubbings from surfaces
Image by Laura Fantini

The first activity I am sharing is by Laura Fantini. Laura works as an Atelierista in early childhood centres in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Laura’s approach is based on supporting children’s curiosity and artistic skills that then allow them to engage in different expressive ‘languages.’ Laura studied visual art at Bologna University and loves to experiment, learn and share. She is constantly inspired by what children do and hopes to inspire them by what she does! You can follow Laura’s on Instagram.

Age Range: 2 years+ 

Materials:

  • Tracing or baking paper
  • Crayons
  • Different surfaces you find around the house, like keys, Lego blocks and kitchen utensils 

Activity description:

Have you ever observed the surfaces you have at home? By doing it, you can find many possible patterns. After researching different surfaces, you can use black or colored wax crayon to run the different surfaces onto the baking paper… you can then collect them or create collages!

Kids art projects: Make rubbings from surfaces
Image by Laura Fantini

Do some messy play with gloop by LOMIE

This activity was put together by Dr Fern Kelly who is the founder of LOMIE, a sustainable babywear company based in Nottingham, UK. Fern shared this messy ‘gloop’ play activity that she did with her toddler during the lockdown. Gloop is a great activity for babies and toddlers as it gives them the opportunity to do some fun sensory play! It is also great for learning about concepts such as what is solid and liquid. You can follow LOMIE on Instagram here.

Kids art projects: Make gloop
Image by Fern Kelly

Age range: 6 months +

Materials:

  • 2 cups of cornflower
  • 1 cup of water
  • Food coloring
  • A large mixing bowl

Instructions:

You can make the gloop with your kids! Firstly, place the cornflour into a large container along with a few drops of food coloring.  Have the water ready for your child to pour into the container. Mix the water into the cornflour and coloring (this may take some time to do). You can also encourage your child to help mix the gloop using a spatula or their hands.

Activity description:

Gloop is a really simple and fun sensory activity that is suitable for kids aged 6 months and up. It is edible and easy to wash out of clothes so perfect for babies and toddlers! Gloop is solid when you touch it with force but liquid when you touch it slowly. Fern made two different colors of gloop and let her 2 year-old son mix them together. The activity kept everyone entertained for over 45 minutes, on two consecutive days. Fern recommends setting the activity up in the bath if you are stuck indoors. Gloop is very messy but kids love it!

Kids art projects: Make gloop
Image by Fern Kelly

Experiment with fluffy paint by Annick Collins

This fluffy paint activity was put together by Annick Collins who is an artist and mother of two kids, aged 3 and 7. Annick has studied design at London’s Royal College of Art and has continued working in the creative industries over the past 15 years. Since moving to Saudi Arabia in 2015, she has been running a creative family blog, which you can follow on Instagram here, that includes community workshops and an art club. The fluffy paint reminded Annick and her kids of melted ice-cream so they used it to create ice-cream pictures. You can read the instructions on how you can try this at home below:

Kids art projects: Make fluffy paint
Image by Annick Collins

Age range: 3+

Materials:

  • 3-4 TBS Shaving cream
  • 3 TBS School glue
  • Food coloring (4-5 drops) or a squeeze of acrylic kids paint
  • Paper or cardboard for painting on

Activity description:

To make the paint, mix shaving foam with school glue then add the coloring. If you want to make an ‘ice-cream’ you could drawn or print a cone onto a piece of paper then add the fluffy paint. You can also add glitter to the fluffy paint for a funky effect ( but please try and source biodegradable glitter). The paint will take a day or so to dry. It may also be a big soft once dry. My three year old just enjoyed playing and mixing the different colored fluffy paint together!

Have a go at doing your own kids art projects!

Please let is know if you give any of these activities a try!

And if you upload a picture to Instagram, you could add the hashtag #quarentineplayideas so I can share it with other Mums and Dads.

Thinking of you all at this difficult time.

Happy making!

Louisa x

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