Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Annette Kaminsky

String Painting Snake Art

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This string painting snake art is perfect for a reptile theme. In addition to enhancing the topic of snakes, it offers children a novel way to paint.

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Supplies To Collect

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Gather the following supplies for this simple string painting activity:

  • sturdy paper
  • tempera paint
  • small disposable plates
  • yarn
  • scissors
  • clothespins
  • spoons
  • waterproof table cover

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Preparing The String Painting Snake Art Activity

To set up this novel string art activity, cover a table with a waterproof table cover.

Then spoon tempera paint into small disposable plates.

Next, cut the yarn into lengths about 6 to 8 inches long.

Afterward, attach a clothespin to the end of each strip of yarn.

Set the paint dishes, prepared string, and sturdy pieces of paper onto the art table and the activity is ready to go.

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The String Painting Snake Art Project

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To create snake-like painted shapes, lay a string on a paint-filled plate, draping the clothespin attached end over the edge.

Use a spoon to press down on the string to ensure it is covered in paint.

Next, carefully lift off the string and lay it on the paper in a snake-like, serpentine pattern.

Then gently put the string back in the same color of paint.

Repeat the process with more paint colors to create snakes in additional hues.

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Variations of the String Art Project

After participants have completed a snake art project, invite them to explore more string painting techniques:

  • Dragging the string across the paper covers it more quickly, and allows for paint mixing.
  • Using fingers to manipulate the string instead of clothespins adds a tactile experience.
  • Experimenting with thick and thin string, and longer and shorter pieces creates different effects.
  • Spooning paint on the paper first, and dragging the string through it is another way to paint.

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Related:

Northern Lights Squish Painting

Balloon Painting Flower Art

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Apple Print Activities

Corn Syrup Paint Sunflowers

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

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Painting with Corn

Cauliflower Paint Prints

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More Reptile-themed Activities

Reptile Theme Activities

Black Playdough Snakes

Reptile Egg Science

Paper Chain Snake Craft

Reptile Active World Tray

Reptile Pet Store Center

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[Read more…] about String Painting Snake Art
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Balloon Painting Flower Art

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This balloon painting flower art is quick and easy to do and can make a room look cozier in no time. It is an unexpected, novel way to create art. Since children love activities with balloons, they’ll surely enjoy participating in this art invitation.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this large-scale art project:

  • round balloons
  • tempera paints in a variety of colors
  • paper plates
  • 18-inch x 24-inch sturdy paper
  • paintbrushes and paint pots
  • sponge dish wands
  • thin metallic garland
  • white glue and glue paddle
  • scissors
  • waterproof table cover

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Balloon Painting Flower Art Set Up

To set up this art project, start by covering an art table with a waterproof table cover.

Next, blow up round balloons to about 1/3 their usual size. Small balloons work fine for this project.

Then pour tempera paint in a variety of colors onto paper plates.

Afterward, drop paint into small plates or paint pot lids and add a sponge dish wand into each one.

Set out the paint trays, balloons, dish wands, and large sheets of sturdy paper on the art table. Your painting invitation is now ready to go.

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The Balloon Painting Flower Art Project

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To create eye-catching balloon art flowers, press a balloon into one of the paint colors, lift it off, and carefully press it down onto a piece of sturdy paper.

Tip: The firmer a paint-dipped balloon is pressed on paper, the bigger the print. Pressing the balloon down gently creates a smaller print.

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Continue to make balloon prints. It’s fun to create flowers in hues of blue and green in addition to more commonly seen colors.

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Afterward, dip a sponge dish wand into a contrasting paint color and stamp a circle in the center of each flower-shaped print.

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When the roundish prints are dry, cut them out.

Then dip a paintbrush into a pot of green tempera and paint leaves and stems on a large sheet of cardstock paper.

For a shimmery look, add a line of white glue to each leaf and press on a strip of thin metallic garland.

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Next, glue the round, bold, balloon-painted flowers on top of the stems using white glue or a glue gun.

To embellish the flower centers, add a circle of glue to each one and affix a strip of thin metallic garland to each of them.

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You will have large-scale, stunning flower art ready for display.

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Related:

Tulip Art Painting Project

Dish Wand Print Flower Art

Flower Theme Activities

Mother’s Day Crafts and Gifts

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Tea Party Water Play

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Set up this oh-so-simple tea party water play sensory invitation in minutes. Children love to pour water from a tea pot into cups, or from one cup to another, so will be super excited to explore it. Easily add in or change supplies to further extend the play experience.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few supplies will have your little learners eagerly engaging in a tea party sensory experience. Gather the following:

  • bus tub
  • liquid food coloring
  • water
  • miniature tea sets
  • flower-themed confetti
  • spoons
  • waterproof table cover

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The Tea Party Water Play Set Up

To set up this low prep sensory invitation indoors, cover a table with a waterproof table cover. If you plan to offer the activity outdoors on a warm weather day, you can skip this step.

Next, pick a sensory tub to use. My go-to tub size is a white bus tub. It comfortably allows two to three children to play in it at one time and is easy to transport to any location. It is also very sturdy.

Then add lukewarm water and squeeze in a few drops of liquid food coloring.

Sprinkle in flower-themed confetti to add a dose of sparkle.

Lastly, drop in a miniature tea set for each child participating, and include a few larger spoons.

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A sensory play invitation couldn’t be easier to offer.

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Variations of the Tea Party Water Play Experience

To add interest and extend the tea party sensory play experience, include flowers and buds. These peonies look beautiful and offer a tactile experience.

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Note: Peonies are safe to touch but should not be consumed. If the children in your care are prone to explore by putting things in their mouths, choose edible flowers such as roses (featured below) for this activity.

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Rose flowers and buds are an exquisite choice for the bin. All parts of a rose plant are safe to eat. Just make sure there are no thorns on the rose stems as they are very prickly!

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Changing up the color of the water from a neon pink to a neon turquoise adds interest too.

Additional water play ideas for the bin are selecting a larger tea set, and offering play food desserts.

And finally, instead of filling a tub with colored water, simply set a miniature tea set on a low-edged tray and add a small bottle filled with water. Little learners will delight in transferring water from the bottle to the tiny teapot and cups.

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Benefits of the Tea Party Water Play Invitation

Practicing the skill of pouring, developing eye-hand coordination, enhancing fine motor skills, labeling flowers and parts, color recognition, experiencing beauty, and having a pleasurable play experience are all benefits of this simple and economical tea party sensory set up.

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Related:

Tea Party Sensory Play

Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

Lilac Flower Sensory Trays

Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

Flower Theme Activities

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Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin

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It is common to see bees hovering around sunflowers, as bees love the generous supply of nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce. Bees pollinate sunflowers so are helpful to these giant-headed flowers in return. Their relationship is the inspiration for this bee and sunflower sensory bin.

Sensory Bin Supplies

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In searching for supplies, my first stops are always at discount or dollar stores. This is often all that is needed to add specialty items to a sensory setup. The following locally found supplies are in this insect and flower sensory bin:

  • honeycomb ice cube tray
  • honey pot and dippers
  • sunflower-themed spatula
  • bee figurine
  • artificial sunflowers
  • bumblebee stickers
  • pompoms
  • pearl beads
  • spatula
  • bowl and spoon

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The Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin

White glutinous rice, one of my favorite supplies, is the bee and sunflower sensory bin base. The bin itself is a bus tub, another favorite accessory.

A honeypot and honeycomb ice cube tray are eye-catching feature accessories.

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Artificial sunflower heads and a sunflower-themed spatula represent the sunflower theme.

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In addition to one life-like bee figurine, bumblebee stickers without the white paper-backing removed provide opportunities for counting and sorting.

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Pearl beads and pompoms in various sizes add interest and offer fine motor and eye-hand coordination opportunities.

Preschoolers love sensory play, and setting up a bee and sunflower-themed sensory bin for your little charges will surely have them buzzing with excitement.

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Related:

Honeycomb Cereal Necklace Lacing

A fun honeycomb cereal "snowflake" necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice.

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Spider Theme Activities

Green Huntsman Spider Activities

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[Read more…] about Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin
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Reptile Active World Tray

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A reptile active world tray is a great way to introduce animals such as snakes, lizards, and turtles to young children. Having a chance to explore these reptiles in a small world helps alleviate fears surrounding these scaly animals.

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Supplies To Collect

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The following supplies are in the reptile active world tray:

  • snake, lizard, frog, and insect figurines
  • fillable eggs
  • artificial palm branches and grass panels
  • wood logs and slices
  • recycled toilet paper and paper towel rolls
  • rocks

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The Reptile Active World Tray

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A large active world tray nicely holds a few artificial grass panels and the other sensory supplies. A bus tub or round saucer are good sensory tray bin alternatives.

Various-sized snake and lizard figurines add variety to the tray.

Frog and insect figurines serve as prey for the snakes and lizards to eat.

Toilet paper and paper towel rolls make perfect hollow logs for snakes to hide in.

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Fillable eggs are just the right size for tiny lizard hatchlings and snakelets to break out of.

Artificial palm branches provide ground cover.

And wood logs, wood slices, and rocks add natural elements to the reptile active world tray.

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Related:

Reptile Theme Activities

Reptile Egg Science

Sea Turtle Theme Activities

Turtle Pond Sensory Bin

Turtle Christmas Craft

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[Read more…] about Reptile Active World Tray
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