Get moving and get creative at the same time with a big art project. Ribbon painting is a fun art project for toddlers to let loose and paint in a fun way.
But its also fun for preschoolers too!
It wasn’t just ribbon painting… it was ribbon throw painting.
I begin by asking… Henry, what three colors would you like to paint with?
Blue, Green and White.
I was shocked he named three colors. I didn’t have to correct him to only choose three, or coerce him into saying another color. He simply just rattled off three colors.
Set out the paint and add some ribbon [or cords, or tinsel, whatever you got on hand] to dip into the paint.
I took this art activity outside and made it big. I taped four scrapbook papers together in a large square onto some cardboard. [The cardboard was to protect my sidewalk from paint, not totally necessary, but also made a sturdy, stiff base for the paper to be on.]
Henry dipped the ribbons in the paint and ran them across the paper.
Surprisingly, this didn’t really interest Henry… Until he stood up to refill his ribbon with more paint. That’s when he began to throw the ribbons onto the papers!
And then it was fun!
Seeing how they splatted onto the paper and what kind of design they left suddenly became interesting to Henry.
Then dragging the ribbon off to do it again, left yet another streak of paint.
A beautifully created art piece and a fun activity in one!
Henry chose to display the blue paper in the frame.
Why the blue paper? Because there’s an H – for Henry!
More Art projects for Toddlers:
Henry was 3 years old.
About Jamie Reimer
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Love this! You are creating Henry into a Jackson Pollock (artist)! There is always great experimentation going on with each post! Since Henry is so active a new twist is always put on to each activity! I Love it! Keep doing what you are doing! Most parents would give up, but you just go with the flow!
Excellent. Adding this to my growing list of painting ideas to share with my toddler
Oooh, what a wonderful idea! And I'm so impressed that he found the H! Way to go, Henry!
I love how Henry figured out how to make ribbon painting fun!
It's a different ball game altogether with boys! No matter how he did, the best part is, he figured out a way for himself and a way that resulted in fun as well as art! Love the photos!
Very fun! I like the large surface area he had to work on. Thanks for linking up!
Love the action shots – and the finished masterpiece looks fab in the frame.
Love the effect you've created here – yet another idea that I shall add to my ever lengthening 'to try' list.
Thanks for adding this, and the other posts, to Mini-Masterpieces.
I love the ideas Jamie! I am a stay at home mom of triplet toddlers so we’re always looking for things to do…you have inspired a lot of time spent together!
Excellent Post! Just what I was looking for!
What a terrific idea…and yet another fun activity to add to my “If it ever gets warm outside we’ll do these things” list.
I loved reading your observations of Henry’s discoveries and seeing his proud pointing in the last photo!
Brilliant! As soon as the latest snowstorm’s contents melt, we’ll have to try this out. I think the throwing aspect will appeal to all of the ages I have here!
More snow Erin? Where are you at? I thought we had it bad with the weather right now…. But it’s just cold…. No snow thankfully.
Hi Jamie I love seeing and reading your fabulous activities that you do with your children. Your ideas inspire me to be creative with my toddlers in the classroom and outdoors. I will definitely be using this painting activity with my littlies. I can just picture the messy, creative fun we will have.
this looks like a wonderful sunny-day project!! i’m adding this to the to-do list for sure!! thanks!