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37 of Our Favorite Easy Art Projects for Kids
The stress of tests and social dynamics can prove challenging for students, and for this reason, they need an opportunity to express themselves freely. Art provides a powerful outlet for creative expression while also proving therapeutic. Plus, a good art project can be particularly effective at getting kids to unplug from their devices. A simple art project can even fill some of downtime during the day for early finishers. Regardless of whether you teach preschool or high school, there is an art project for everyone. So gather some art supplies and try one of these easy art projects for kids!
Easy Art Projects for Pre-K Students
1. Paper Bag Jelly Fish
As far as easy art projects for kids go, this one is perfect for preschoolers since it works on their hand-eye coordination and their cutting skills in particular. In addition to paper bags and scissors or pinking shears, you will need some paints, paintbrushes, googly eyes, and glue. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can grab some sparkles too!
Learn more: Paper Bag Jelly Fish at No Time for Flash Cards
2. Tissue Paper Apple
Since everyone associates apples with fall and the start of school, this will be the perfect craft to start the school year off on the right foot. Simply draw an apple outline on a piece of paper and have small red and green tissue paper squares ready to be crumpled and glued by tiny hands.
Learn more: Tissue Paper Apple at Burlap + Blue
3. Fork Print Tulips
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This project is both cute and simple, requiring only a fork, some heavyweight paper, and some paints. This project would be especially perfect for a Mother’s Day gift.
Learn more: Fork Tulip at Toddler at Play
4. Paper Bag Monster
First, paint the bag any color you want. Once dry, cut out shapes from card stock and assemble your monster!
Learn more: Paper Bag Monster Puppets at I Heart Crafty Things
5. Paper Plate Lion
All you need to re-create this adorable lion is orange and black paint, paintbrushes, paper plates, and scissors. Grab some Popsicle sticks to glue to the back and you’ll have a ferocious puppet show on your hands in no time!
Learn more: Paper Plate Lion at My Bored Toddler
6. Popsicle Stick Rainbow
Grab some blue card stock, cotton circles, and Popsicle sticks and have your students work on their gluing skills. This craft will prove effective at teaching little ones their colors. Choose either colored Popsicle sticks or have kids color them themselves.
Learn more: Popsicle Stick Rainbow at My Bored Toddler
7. Paper Plate Octopus
Kids love octopuses, especially adorable ones like these! This craft would be perfect for little ones still learning to count since they have a whopping eight legs to make.
Learn more: Paper Plate Octopus at Simple Every Day Mom
8. Macaroni Necklace
A staple of many of our childhoods, macaroni necklaces work on the dexterity of little fingers while also making perfect gifts. Add in some large beads as well for variety.
Learn more: DIY Macaroni Necklaces at Made To Be a Mama
Easy Art Projects for Elementary School Students
9. Paper Plate Snake
Have your students paint a paper plate with watercolors and then once dry, help them cut it in a swirl shape. Finally, add some googly eyes.
Learn more: Colorful Paper Plate Snakes at Pink Stripey Socks
10. Paper Roll Koala
This super-cute koala would make an adorable desk buddy since it stands up on its own. Kids will enjoy personalizing their koala’s face!
Learn more: Paper Roll Koala at Arty Crafty Kids
11. Leaf Pattern Drawing
We just love art projects that fill the entire page, and this one certainly fits the bill. The combination of crayon and watercolor paint create this multi-dimensional leaf print.
Learn more: Leaf Pattern at Art Projects for Kids
12. Woven Rainbow Fish
This project is perfect for working on students’ hand-eye coordination while being a cursory introduction to sewing. It’s challenging enough for even upper elementary school students while still being relatively simple.
Learn more: Rainbow Fish at Crafty Morning
13. Thumbprint Bugs
These thumbprint doodles are just so sweet and would perfectly complement a science lesson all about bugs. After having students try their hand at some of the thumbprint examples, let them use their imagination to see what other ideas they can cook up. You can even have them create bug jars out of card stock to put their new friends in!
Learn more: Thumbprint Bugs via Toot’s Mom Is Tired
14. Umbrella With Rain
Another fun art project that is really affordable to create since you only need paper plates, some paints, a roll of string, and some blue beads. We just love this clever approach to creating raindrops!
Learn more: Umbrella With Rain at Easy Peasy and Fun
15. Popsicle Stick Pencil
Nothing says back to school more than a cute pencil-themed craft. Have students add their names to them and then use them to decorate a September bulletin board in your classroom.
Learn more: Popsicle Stick Pencil at Crafty Morning
16. Craft Stick Airplane
Kids will unquestionably go crazy over these clothespin-and-Popsicle-stick airplanes. Regardless of whether they choose paint or permanent markers, students will enjoy personalizing their tiny flying machines.
Learn more: Craft Stick Airplane at Making Life Blissful
17. Pom-Pom Caterpillars
Since kids love pom-poms and caterpillars, this will be the perfect craft to grab their attention. Make sure to supply them with a fun variety of pom-poms and googly eyes.
Learn more: Pom-Pom Caterpillar at Easy Peasy and Fun
13 Easy Art Activities for Transitions
These easy arts and crafts ideas are low mess and perfect for transition points and downtime throughout the day. Updated September 2023 When do you set up art activities for your kids? When our kids were younger, mornings were always good for an art activity. Once our kids entered school, we liked to have a simple activity set up for when they got home. It’s as much a chance to sit around the table together and talk as to create together. (We often save the more involved projects for weekends these days.) The key is to keep things super simple and as mess-free as possible, so you’re more likely to do it! Here are some easy art and craft activities for kids that work well for after school or other transition times. These are low-key, low-mess activities that generally require a minimum of set-up, a minimum of adult involvement, and a minimum of clean-up.
Easy Art Activities for Kids
1. Sticker Art
This is such a fun way to “draw” pictures! Simply give your child a piece of paper and a variety of stickers and let them go. They’ll get right to it and have a blast sticking stickers on all over the paper. For older kids, you can use eye stickers for one of our favorite drawing prompts!
2. Shadow Tracing Art
Shadow art is a super simple, yet highly engaging, art activity for kids. Set up in a sunny spot, trace a pattern of shadow and light on paper, and then paint it.
3. Tissue Paper Suncatchers
These tissue paper suncatchers are super easy to make, and don’t require any special materials. We also love them because no matter what you use to decorate them, they always come out lovely. You can add feathers, sequins and spangles, and even a little glitter along with the tissue paper squares.
4. Playdough Play
Playdough is a great transition activity – it requires very little set up or clean up, and the possibilities with it are endless. And check out our post on how to set up a playdough play tray.
5. DIY Art Activity Pages (or printables, if you want something super simple)
Encourage kids’ creativity with DIY art activity pages. These can be created on the fly, using materials you already have, and customized to your child’s interests. And if you want something even easier, check out our list of printable art activities.
6. Building with Clay
For a simple and relatively mess-free clay experience, try Plastilina! It doesn’t dry out, so it can be used over and over again for so many fun sculpting projects.
7. Pipe Cleaners with Beads
It may seem simple but every kid we know LOVES to string beads on pipe cleaners! Whether they’re doing a random pattern or creating bracelets for friends, this will keep your kids occupied while you get dinner on the table. For older kids, you can try this simple stitching project.
8. Collage with Paper Shapes
This super simple activity is always a winner with kids. Tear or cut shapes out of paper and glue onto poster board or cardstock for a colorful and creative design.
9. Toothpick Sculptures (try it with grapes for a healthy snack!)
If you haven’t tried toothpick sculptures with your kids, definitely give it a try! It’s a construction project that kids of all ages (adults, too!) will love, and the possibilities for materials are endless.
10. Watercolor Resist with crayons or oil pastels
This is a lovely and easy art process that we come back to again and again. Draw designs with crayons or oil pastels, paint over with watercolors, and see the crayon designs come through the paint!
12. Washi Tape Art
Kids love tape! Let them make patterns and designs with it and see what they come up with. You can use smaller rolls of washi tape or larger masking tape, too.
13. Simply Painting or Drawing
If you want to keep things super simple, you can put out some paper and crayons, oil pastels, or a watercolor palette and let your kids create! Some of our favorite moments are sitting around the kitchen table simply drawing and painting with our kids. If you want to make your life easier, keep an art caddy stocked with low mess art supplies in a place where your kids can access it. You’ll be amazed at the creating that can happen when kids have access to materials and some independence to create with! Want even more art ideas for kids? Our Art Invitations Creativity Pack will teach you how to set up an art invitation along with 40 simple invitations and resource guide.
More Easy Art for Kids
- The Best Art Ideas for Kids
- 10 Simple Art Activities to Set Up for After School
- 12 Kids’ Art Games for Fun and Creativity
- 5 Easy After School Art Invitations for Kids
- 10 Invitations to Create to Bring Out Kids Natural Creativity
- 5 Low Mess Creative Activities for Kids
More art ideas for kids
15. Even preschoolers can make these pretty marbled planets from I Heart Crafty Things using shaving cream and craft paint.
16. I love how cute and colorful these paper plate flowers turn out. Fun kid’s art idea from Pink Stripey Socks.
17. Make your own paintbrushes to experiment with natural textures with this fun tutorial from Learn Create Love.
18. These rocks turn out gorgeous – pretty enough to set out on a shelf with other knickknacks. All you need is paint and an inexpensive salad spinner! Learn more about this easy art idea from Meri Cherry.
19. I used to love coloring on paper doilies as a kid, but these painted versions from Whatever… turn out so pretty!
20. Visit Childhood 101 to learn how even very young kids can make these pretty paintings with food coloring and bubble wands.
More kid activities:
If you’re looking for more kid activities, visit this post: 50 activities for kids
Meet Autumn
Hello there! I’m a busy mom of five who loves to make things. Crafts, recipes, sewing, holiday projects: I’ve tried them all, and you can too! I love EASY projects anyone can make.
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- Isabel says Posted on 9/13/23 at 6:36 pm
These look so fun, I can’t wait to try them with my brother and sister.
What’s truly exciting are the simple yet stunning art techniques shared here. From vibrant watercolor backgrounds created with markers and a plastic bag to inspired renditions of classic art styles, these projects invite kids to explore their creativity while learning from the greats. The addition of printable quotes adds a touch of personalization and thoughtfulness.
