Today was a really fun day. I promised the kids a morning full of art – which is one of their very favourite activities. The challenge for me was finding creative art projects suitable for an 11 year old and a 3 year old (and — for an added challenge, including the 1 year old). We did a few different art projects but the favourite by far — and I might add one of the easiest — was this print making for kids.
When I was in teachers college I had a wonderful Art professor. Every class she introduced to a new creative art project and different techniques. She taught us about them – but then we created. And I fully believe that it was this creating that has made me remember each and every creative art project she taught me many years ago! This print making activity was one of those.
Print Making for Kids
All that is needed for this activity is paint (we used regular liquid tempra paint) and paper. We also used painters tape and had a plastic table cloth covering are table – though these are just to minimize mess, not really needed. But nice to have —- a minimal mess.
On top of the plastic table cloth I stuck painters tape around the edge of a piece of paper – like a frame. I just used the paper to measure how big the frame should be. I then lifted out the paper, so we were left with an outline of the paper in painters tape on the plastic table cloth …
Next, the kids painted inside the frame. Mine used paint brushes, but finger painting is fun too. Any design or picture is great – and the more creative the better!
When the picture was complete we put a piece of white paper over top of the painting and pressed.
Then we peeled off the paper and we were left with beautiful prints of the painting.
Madeline got creative (as usual) and painted her ‘canvas’ (plastic table cloth rectangle) red. Then she stuck construction paper hearts over the painting. When she pressed down her paper and peeled it off the paper hearts had left blank imprints on the otherwise red painting. I think it’s lovely!
This was a great activity that all 3 of my kids took part in – the baby used yogurt in his high chair – but still took part (though his print making need to stay refrigerated …) Both Sammy and Madeline really enjoyed this activity and it was so easy to differentiate it to their very different ages.
Print making for kids is such a creative way to explore and learn. It is interesting to see how letters, shapes, and designs look once printed. And trying to write a name so it looks right when made into a print is a big challenge!!
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