Six painting activities that do not require a paintbrush
Painting is a great way to encourage children’s physical and creative development. Painting activities are usually offered with paintbrushes to use. However, there are lots of different ways of making marks. Why not try these six painting activities that do not require a paintbrush.
Body Painting
Body painting is a fun way for children to learn about their bodies and experiment with moving in a range of different ways. Body painting is best on a large scale using large sheets of paper or a roll of wall paper on the floor. The practitioner can offer pallets of paint enabling the children to easy access the paint using their hands, fingers, feet, etc. The children can then use their bodies to make marks on the paper, rolling, stamping or making circles with the paint.
Pipe cleaners
Pipe cleaners and lolly pop sticks are a great way to develop good control over tools and equipment. These can be dipped in paint and used to make marks. The children will discover different ways of making marks such as dripping the paint across the paper or using the tools to draw lines. Both tools can be difficult to manipulate to leave marks so the children will need to explore a range of ways to make the paint transfer to the paper.
Spatulas, spoons, scrubbing brushes
Household items such as spatulas, metal serving spoons, and scrubbing brushes are a fun way of painting. The child can dip the utensils into the paint and experiment with different ways of making marks such as banging or dragging the spoon across the paper. Potato mashers and fish slices can make very interesting and creative patterns on the paper.
Biscuit cutters
Biscuit cutters are a great way to create shape collages using paint. Simply let the children dip the biscuit or playdough cutter into the paint and print onto paper. This will leave the outline or shape of the cutter and can be used with younger and older children.
Ice painting
Ice painting can be a different way of painting without brushes or using ordinary paint. Simply mix a range of coloured paints with water and pour into an ice cube tray. Place a lolly pop stick in each cube and freeze overnight. Once frozen, simply pop the paint cubes out of the tray; the lolly pop stick will act as a handle. These can then be used to make marks on paper.
Nature painting
Nature is full of interesting materials and objects that can be used to make marks with paint. The children can go on a nature walk and a selection of natural resources such as twigs, stones, leaves, and acorns. Then can then be used to dip in the paint and make marks. Painting with the different selection of natural resources will allow the children to experience not only the texture of the objects but discover the different marks they can make.