Invitations to create art bring out children’s natural creativity while providing a low-key activity they can do on their own. These 10 simple yet enticing kids art activities are set up ahead of time to encourage children to explore art materials, techniques, and ideas.
Updated January 2021
How do you encourage your child to create art?
Some kids just seem to want to create all the time.* If they have their own art space, they spend a lot of time drawing, painting, collaging, sculpting, whatever they are into. If they don’t have a dedicated place for art, they ask for art supplies or art activities regularly.
*Or so it seems at during phases of their childhood.
Some kids don’t, but if “invited” to make art with an enticing set up of art materials, they might happily explore an art activity, material, or technique.
Invitations to create are great for all kids — both those who are less likely to make art unprompted and those who seem to never stop.
An invitation to create is both an opportunity to entice a child to make art, period, but also an opportunity to introduce a new material, technique, or activity.
Art invitations are OBVIOUS and CLEARLY DEFINED, unlike strewing, which is a more ambiguous and subtle way of encouraging learning and creativity. I encourage you to experiment with both.
NOTE: I have a free mini course on Rocking Simple Art Invitations that I will link to at the end of this post.
How to Set up an Invitation to Create Art
Here are a few things to keep in mind when setting up kids art invitations.
- Use a clean table or otherwise clear space.
- Have the art invitation set up ahead of time. You can set it up the night before, during nap time, or while the kids are at school. Either set it up directly on the table, or set it up on a tray that you can keep out of the way until you’re ready to offer the art invitation. (We use IKEA trays and the art trays mentioned in this post about art tools.)
- Keep the materials and set up simple and attractive. A single piece of paper with 1-3 different art materials, colors, etc, in small dishes, for example.
- Allow the child to explore the art invitation in their own way. You can provide some guidance at the very beginning if it seems warranted (for example, “what do you think would happen if you sprinkled some of this salt over the wet watercolors?”) but for the most part let them “own” the invitation.
Here are some ideas for art invitations…
10 Ideas for Invitations to Create
1. Oil Pastel Painting
Set out oil pastels, Q-tips, and a small dish of vegetable oil with a piece of sturdy paper. The oil works with the pastels to create a painted effect.
2. Light Table Art
Set up a simple art activity, such as drawing or collage, over a light box or a DIY light table. You can also set out materials from a sensory bin, like these beads!
3. Fingerprint Art
A stamp pad and a pen are all you need, but a fingerprint art book can provide some fun ideas, too. See what you can come up with!
4. Art Printables
Print out one of these creativity-inspiring sheets and set out with some markers or whatever is appropriate for the printable in question.
5. DIY Art Activity Pages
Or if you’d like, make one of these simple DIY art prompts.
6. Q-Tip Pointillism
A few shallow dishes of paint, some Q-tips, and paper are all you need for this art activity!
7. Pasta Collages
A sturdy paper plate, pasta (colored pasta is extra fun!) and some glue allow kids to create collages in any design or image they like, including mandalas.
8. Hole Art
Set out a piece of paper with a hole cut out of it (or something pasted to it) along with a drawing tool or some paints.
9. Watercolors + Salt
Sprinkling salt over wet watercolors creates magic! All you need are watercolors (liquid watercolors work especially well), a small dish of salt, and watercolor paper. Add in some foil stars or other stickers for a fun sticker resist.
10. Tape Art
Tape of all kinds is fun to experiment with. Add scissors and paper to a set-up with any kind of tape, but especially try washi tape (printed paper tape) or colored masking tape.
A Free Mini Course on Rocking Simple Art Invitations
I highly encourage you to give Simple Art Invitations a try with your kids! In fact, I recently created a (free) mini course for you to help you implement this seriously awesome parenting tool in your family. You can get it by clicking the link below.
CLICK HERE to get the free mini course on Rocking Simple Art Invitations!
Which invitations to create will you try at home this week?
More Art Invitations for Kids
- 5 After School Art Invitations for Kids
- 13 Simple Art Activities for Kids During Transitions
- How to Set Up Creative Invitations for Kids
- Why I Like Morning Invitations with My Kids
- The Benefits of Art for Kids
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10 Comments
Tobias Armstrong
March 14, 2016 at 3:10 pmI like the idea to keep the materials simple and easy to work with. Also the idea to only give them a couple of different things to work with. I think back to my childhood and the thing that let me be the most creative was actually only giving me a few options. It seems counter-intuitive, but it worked really well for me. Thanks for sharing!
Jean Van't Hul
March 14, 2016 at 6:13 pmAgreed, Tobias!
Gretchen Mercer
September 6, 2016 at 2:02 pmThank you So Much! I am a retired teacher who still has the itch to teach children! My grandchildren love it when I have crafts or art projects ready for them. We will enjoy your blog and wonderful ideas that will most likely fit for any/all ages!
Archana
September 11, 2016 at 9:56 amHI, I AM A HOME MAKER WHO ALWAYS HAD AN INCLINATION TOWARDS COLOURS,CHILDREN AND SPIRITUALITY
SO I AM PALANNING TO START A CREATIVE SKILLS CLASS FOR KIDS AND YOUR INFORMATION IS THE MAIN SOURCE GIVING ME THE STRUCTURE AND CHANNELISE THE IDEAS AND TOPICS IN AN ORDER. MOST IMPORATANT -I AM ABLE TO LEARN A PLENTY OF NEW THINGS.
THANKYOU SO MUCH
Jean Van't Hul
September 16, 2016 at 4:39 pmYou’re welcome, Archana! Good luck with your new class!
Jean Van't Hul
September 16, 2016 at 4:40 pmYou’re so welcome, Gretchen! Glad you enjoy my blog and ideas!
Barbara
October 10, 2016 at 1:20 pmHi Jean, I LOVE your ideas and am so inspired! I teach after-school art to kids in Boise and lately find I need a jump-start for ideas to use as a springboard (yes, even with Pinterest at by beckon call). I’d love to link to your site in my next blogpost. People are hungry to learn from creatives like you! Thank you :) https://myartkin.com/category/artkin-blog/
Talia
October 25, 2016 at 6:56 pmhow can i print off some art ideas?
Invitation In A Bottle
December 5, 2017 at 11:02 pmGreat Ideas Guys!!
I really really enjoy your blog and excellent ideas!!
Ashley Sison
April 12, 2021 at 8:34 amI’m actually looking for this guide. I’m going to use it as a bonding activity with my kids. Fine Tree Service Fort Collins