25+ Favorite Process Art Activities

Preschool and the early school years are a time for play and exploration. As parents, we’re told that play is a means by which children process and understand the world around them. Play is not only with toys, on the playground or with friends, but extends into many aspects of learning. Process art is a chance for children to explore new tools and play.

While the results are typically adorable, cookie cutter crafts in which all children produce similar products for their parents (to love and cherish forever) are not always the best way to explore art as an extension of play. Letting children use a particular medium to play is fun and less frustrating (other than clean up time). Children are encouraged and inspired!

Sometimes this involves unconventional uses of non-art related tools, but the learning happens on so many levels!

25+ Best Process Art Activities

Open-Ended Process Art Activities

Using strategically-placed tape, allow children to explore painting with tape resist art. Once the paint dries, peel off the tape to reveal a hidden design. A great way to introduce letters, numbers, and shapes | The Imagination Tree

Try a new painting surface, explore reflections and paint on a mirror!

Adding new props to play dough can inspire new creativity | Munchkins and Moms

Have some leftover yarn? Wrapping it around an object is a great fine motor activity, not to mention a great way to explore color. Try these Fall Leaves for a new twist (pun intended) on fall decor | Cutting Tiny Bites

Chalk is always great for kids to explore and try new surfaces.

The tried and true, yet always a new adventure coffee filter and watercolor creation is sure to be a hit | Hands On: As We Grow

And don’t forget to create a stained glass effect in almost any shape or size using liquid starch and tissue paper | The Artful Parent

Explore texture and color effects when you paint on tin foil | Paging Fun Mums

Avoid the mess, but allow for color exploration when you paint on a light table.

Unconventional Process Art Activities for Kids

If your child loves vehicles, this is fantastic way to combine that love with new inspiration | Housing a Forest

Try painting with a new kind of paintbrush | Parenting Chaos

Use a toilet paper tube as a stamp to create a fall tree.

Use sponges and rings to combine finger painting and paintbrushes | De tout et de rien: Activites pour le Prescolaire

Using favorite plastic creatures, darkly-colored paper and white paint, create a snowy scene full of footprints | Fun-A-Day

Learn about proper oral hygiene while using toothbrushes to paint | Cutting Tiny Bites

Who wouldn’t love painting with a drill?

For the kid (or adult) who gets a kick out of tools – use nuts and bolts as stamps | Picklebums

Puff balls are quite useful for many activities, but splatting them with paint has to be one of the most fun | Fun-A-Day

Legos are a popular childhood building medium, why not extend their fun into art? | The Stir

Gross Motor Process Art Activities

Pretend that the paintbrushes became giants and paint with brooms | Homegrown Friends

Let your kids listen, feel and watch as they manipulate a box of jingle bells covered in paint

Swinging and painting: get all kinds of energy out | Homegrown Friends

Using an extra large piece of paper, a writing tool and movement, allow your children to turn into a Human Spirograph | Myrtle & Eunice

Watch gravity take effect and use the sliding board in a whole new way with sliding board painting | Mess for Less

Wrap a tree in bubble wrap, bring out the finger paints, explore texture and nature – what could be more exciting? | Twodaloo

Collage Process Art Activities

The natural and easy-to-find are our favorite kinds of collage materials. Find some flowers and create a sticky collage

Create a poke in collage with favorite tiny items and plaster of paris | The Artful Parent

Make a melted crayon shaving collage | Stir the Wonder

What are your favorite process art activities?

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