Preschool art projects not only encourage the exploration of the senses, but they can encourage the building of fine motor skills while helping young children showcase their individuality.
Pull up a chair and spend some quality time with your child. Low-preparation projects like decorative light switch covers, marble art, and clothespin dolls will give your preschooler (or Kindergarten student) a chance to strengthen their fingers and stretch their imagination.
We've rounded up these fun art projects for preschoolers as a resource for parents. To learn more about All Saints’, check out our
Phoenix preschool.
Decorative Light Switch Cover You'll need:- Screwdriver
- Switch plate and screw
- Paper
- Pencil
- Craft glue
- Tape
- Art supplies like markers, stickers, glitter glue, glow-in-the-dark paint, puffy paint, pom-poms, or faux jewels
Instructions:
- Help your child trace the switch plate on a piece of paper or craft foam.
- Glue the paper or foam to the switch plate.
- Let your child go wild! He or she may write their name in glitter glue, paint glow-in-the-dark stars, or attach photos to their light switch cover.
- When the plate is dry, screw it back on the wall, and let your child turn on the light.
Marble Art
You'll need:
- Several colors of Tempera paint
- A container for each paint color
- Marbles
- Paper
- Box (or tube or cylindrical container)
Instructions:
- Put a sheet of paper at the bottom of a box.
- Put paint into each container.
- Place a marble in the paint of your child's choosing.
- Roll the marble in paint.
- Ask your child to pick up the marble. Help your child experiment with the shapes and lines that result from bouncing the marble or dragging it across the page.
Variations:
Here's a couple of ways to get your kinetic learner really moving! Instead of rolling the marbles with just fingers, have your child place the marble on the paper in the box. Help him or her move the marble around by tipping the box back and forth. This will really allow your child to practice hand-eye coordination.
Instead of placing paper in a box, place it in a cylinder like an oatmeal container. After placing the marbles slathered in paint in the container, put the lid on and tape it down. Let your child shake the marbles to cover the paper inside with paint from the marbles. Help him or her life the tape off and reveal their marble art.
Clothespin Dolls
You'll Need
- Round clothespins
- Fabric or felt (clothing and accessories)
- Embroidery floss (hair, sashes, belts, purse handles)
- Ball point pen and/or acrylic paint
- Low temperature glue gun (or craft glue)
- Scissors
- Drill
- Pipe cleaner
Instructions:
- First, carefully drill a hole through a clothespin for the arms.
- Cut a small section off a pipe cleaner, then help your child thread it through the hole.
- Cut a bunch of embroidery floss that is 5 inches long. Fold in half to find the center. Place the center of the bunch on the doll's head for hair, securing it with glue.
- Your child can add on details like eyes and rosy cheeks with the pen and/or paint.
- Cut fabric or felt to make clothing, hats, or purses for the doll. Use glue to secure the clothing to the pin. Use remaining embroidery floss for belts, sashes, fringe, or other accessories.
Art isn't mere play. It can teach preschoolers critical life skills like perception and how to discover several solutions for one problem. So, pull up a chair and create together! Messy play encourages your child to learn by using their senses. It provides an outlet for your child to positively express himself or herself. Art helps boost your child's self-esteem, too.
All Saints’ Episcopal Day School is a Phoenix private school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students.
Learn more about our private school in Phoenix.