Arty Things For Babies...

[erin-x]

Has anyone got any ideas about art activities I can do with babies (5-13 months). I need to do a display at work and it's just dawned on me that their abilities aren't up to much. I was thinking about just getting them to finger paint or do hand prints and cut them into shapes so that I can fit them into a Spring display.

Any ideas would be great :) xx

[annie0000]

what about vegetable prints? - potato and carrot (maybe easier for little hands)

[DaisyNonna]

Put a splodge of liquid paint on a piece of paper. Teach the babies to blow at it. Footprints are good, in paint or soft clay. Drop some oil paints (different colours) on water, get littlies to dip and swirl, either fingers or a spoon. Them quickly place a sheet of paper on top and remove to get a marbling effect.

[annie0000]

or glue pictures - e.g they spread pva on paper and then chuck stuff such as mini pasta, lentils, dried peas etc on it.

[erin-x]

All excellent ideas! Thank you :)

Don't know about the paint blowing though... we couldn't even get one of them to blow out their birthday candle this week! :)

[sherrardk]

Put paper in the bottom of a round sponge tin and then place a paint-covered marble in the tin and let the babies swirl the tin around (makes a picture without getting paint all over the little people).

[annie0000]

blowing (or sucking) through a straw is a bit of an acquired skill!!

[annie0000]

mine would have eaten that marble as quick as it was placed in the tin :o)

[erin-x]

Oh I like that one Sher!

It's really hard because I don't want to limit them but I don't want to do anything to hard that they become frustrated.. it's a fine line. Three year olds are the youngest i've worked with before so this is all still new to me :)

[sherrardk]

What about a huge length of lining paper and some chunky crayons and they could all colour the same huge picture?

[ojread2]

lol 5 - 13 month old babies blowing - never happen
Dont use oil paints either
Water based, non toxic and let them get messy on paper
Babies of this age dont really swirl either, they pat and slap and splash
Vegetables could work but they would need help
I like the glue and pasta idea, again they will need help to throw it on the glue
Hand and feet prints of those who can walk cut out to make flowers, rabbits, sheep .....
Stickers on paper
glue sticks with paper scraps
chalk on black paper
paint on a cardboard box
Paper plates decorated and shaped in spring animals/trees/flowers - to get more of a look you want limit the colours used

The important bit is to let them create what they see in their heads
The older ones can make/paint a sheep for example.
Try to not make it look all adult made

[DaisyNonna]

annie that is why I did not mention a straw.

[erin-x]

I had thought about that Sher... taping some paper to the floor and giving them crayons but I want it to fit into a Spring theme... I was thinking about hand print flowers and one the sun and maybe getting them to finger paint with browns and whites to then cut out as rabbits and sheep. I feel like i'm cheating though!! lol!

[erin-x]

Lol OJ! You said all my ideas! :) Keep them coming though... they'll do me in good stead :)

[annie0000]

Ahh Daisy, neither you did - I just so a straw in my head while reading :o)

[DaisyNonna]

Takelots of photos of them sloshing in the paint, making marks in sand. Covered in lunch?

[annie0000]

saw!

[erin-x]

I did paint blowing with a straw at college.. I nearly fainted! It's hard work haha!

[ojread2]

and never underestimate the power of playdough! =)

[erin-x]

I love playdough!! I'm patiently waiting for the day we have gloop! I love gloop!

[ojread2]

Do you get Nursery Times at work Erin?

There has to be 100's of ideas in that to keep you going for years