17 Painting Projects for Kids

These fun, kid-friendly painting ideas will keep your little ones entertained while letting them express their inner artists.

By: Shannon Phillips

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Photo By: Jennifer Perkins

Photo By: Emily Fazio

Photo By: Loch and Key

Photo By: Jennifer Perkins

Photo By: Emily Fazio

Drip-Paint Pots

Spilled paint is typically best avoided, but with this project it's encouraged. Your kids will love dripping paint in a rainbow of colors on clay pots, and you'll love the vibrant accent pieces for your home.

Rolling Pin Printing

If your rolling pin doesn't get much use for baking, upcycle it into a fun printing tool for the kids. Attach pre-cut foam stickers (or make your own shapes using sticky-back craft foam), then roll fun patterns onto paper or fabric with paint.

Salt Painting

The reaction of watercolor paints and salt is pretty fascinating to watch no matter your age. Help your little one make a design on paper using glue and salt, then watch as the watercolors flow and blend together.

Get the How-To: Kid-Friendly Art Project: Raised Salt Painting

Salad Spinner Art

For the child who loves to splash and splatter paint, let them have at it while keeping the mess contained with a salad spinner. This kitchen gadget is great for creating colorful, abstract art.

Get the How-To: Kid-Friendly Craft Project: Salad Spinner Art

Potato Stamping

Turn a simple spud into a custom stamp for the kiddos. An adult should handle the stamp-making process — you can either carve your shape freehand with a sharp paring knife or carve around a cookie cutter. Then, let your kids stamp away on your surface of choice — we used kitchen towels, but any fabric or paper will work.

Get the How-To: Easy Kitchen Update: DIY Potato-Stamped Towels

From: Michelle Edgemont

DIY Finger Paints

Kids love finger painting, but parents don't always appreciate the amount of expensive paint that gets wasted. Learn how to whip up a big batch of extra-thick finger paint for pennies using basic kitchen ingredients.

Get the How-To: How to Make (Really Thick) Kids' Finger Paints

From: Emily Fazio

Snow Painting

Looking for an easy snow day activity? When your kids need a break from playing outside, bring the fun inside by packing fresh snow into a large plastic container. Then, let them experiment with applying watercolors and diluted acrylics.

See More Photos: 15 Snow Day Crafts and Activities for Kids

From: Emily Fazio

Garden Markers

Get the kids involved with your garden design by having them paint cute stone plant labels. Little fingerprints can represent blueberries, tomatoes or radishes, or they can freehand other veggies with a paintbrush. Older children can practice their penmanship by painting the names of each plant on the stones, while younger kids may need help with this step.

Bubble Wrap Art

Save that bubble wrap from your next online order — it's a great item to have around when you need an indoor activity that'll burn off some of your kiddo's energy. Wrap your child's feet in bubble wrap, apply paint to the soles and let them stomp around on a large piece of paper or plywood to create an oversized piece of art.

Get the How-To: Bubble Wrap Family Art Project

Marbleized Paper

Use shaving cream and food coloring to transform plain paper into marbleized masterpieces. Your child will love scraping the fluffy shaving cream away while watching the colors stay behind.

Fingerprint Frames

Let the kids customize basic white picture frames with colorful fingerprints. This easy craft makes a great Mother's Day or birthday gift for Mom.

Get the How-To: Mother's Day Kids' Craft: Fingerprint Picture Frames

Bubble Art

With a little food coloring, you can transform bubble solution into a fun painting medium. Grab your bubble wands and encourage the kids to experiment with big bubbles, small bubbles and letting the bubbles pop on the paper versus in the air.

Get the How-To: Kid-Friendly Craft Project: How to Make Bubble Art

DIY Puffy Paint

With its three-dimensional texture, puffy paint is a fun addition to your kiddo's craft supplies. You can buy puffy paint, or you can make your own using items you probably have around the house, including flour, glue, shaving cream and food coloring. Load the paints into resealable plastic bags, snip off a corner and pipe onto paper.

From: Emily Fazio

Paint Pouring

Paint pouring is all the rage right now, but it sometimes involves messy epoxies and lots of wasted paint. Keep this craft kid-friendly by pouring washable paint in manageable amounts.

Get the How-To: How to Paint Pour – With Kids

Animal Silhouettes

Download one of our printable stencils, attach it to a canvas and let your child fill in the blank space with their favorite color paint. These easy works of art make great wall decor for a kid's bedroom.

Branch Stamps

Give your little ones a lesson in basic hand tools by making these DIY stamps using fallen branches. Then, create fun patterns in paint using thumb tacks, nails, hot glue and more.

Painting Party

If you're looking for a fun birthday idea for your child, consider hosting a painting party. Provide paints, brushes, canvases and other supplies and watch as the masterpieces unfold. Choose a theme for the kids to work within (such as flowers, seen here) or select a specific work of art for them to replicate.

17 Painting Projects for Kids

Related To:

Shop This Look

Drip-Paint Pots

Rolling Pin Printing

Salt Painting

Salad Spinner Art

Potato Stamping

DIY Finger Paints

Snow Painting

Garden Markers

Bubble Wrap Art

Marbleized Paper

Fingerprint Frames

Bubble Art

DIY Puffy Paint

Paint Pouring

Animal Silhouettes

Branch Stamps

Painting Party

Tips for Painting Furniture

Kid-Friendly Art Project: Raised Salt Painting

Kid-Friendly Craft Project: Salad Spinner Art

How to Paint Pour – With Kids

Easy Painted Rock Ideas for Everyone 18 Photos

Color Schemes for Kids' Rooms

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