Use old school supplies or food, or tackle a more permanent home art project to entertain all levels of artist, from the stick figure extraordinaire to the junior Picasso. Color outside the lines with these alternative-drawing options.
Mirror Makeovers
1 of 9Princesses, firemen, astronauts, oh my! Start planning for Halloween or career day and ask the kids to think of a character or what they want to be when they grow up. Grab a few dry-erase markers and head to a full-length mirror at your kid's height, with Windex at the ready. Draw clothes, hats and props on the mirror to create a life-size, 2-D costume.
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Art Classes for KidsChalkboard Paint
2 of 9Commitment and a trip to the hardware store are needed for this project. Pick up a can of writeable, erasable latex chalkboard paint and cover a wall or a few cupboards to create instant graffiti space for the kids. For an extra step, hang a few empty, glassless picture frames to give each artist space to create their picture-perfect chalk art. Just use water to wipe the art wall clean.
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Art Classes for KidsSidewalk Chalk
3 of 9For a less permanent chalk experiment, head outside and work on your curb appeal. Draw hopscotch games, trace body outlines, and get active sketching human board games on your driveway or sidewalk. Take a hose to the colorful concrete for easy cleanup when you're ready to start over.
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Art Classes for KidsPudding Masterpiece
4 of 9We all remember the days of finger-painting, and what a lovely mess we made. You have two options here: Head to the grocery store and pick up some vanilla and chocolate prepackaged pudding for a quick fix, or mix up some homemade vanilla pudding and add in drops of food coloring for a little more variety.
The first step is to lay out an old bed sheet or plastic for protection and get decked out in older clothes. Use paper plates instead of drawing paper, and let the kids run wild, drawing shapes in a thin layer of pudding spread on the plates or painting their own drawings with different shades of the delicious snack. The best part of this one is the kids won't be complaining when it's time to clean up!
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Art Classes for KidsCut Outs
5 of 9Take a piece of paper and cut a face-sized hole out of the center. Kids can insert themselves into their creation without having to draw a self-portrait. Let the imagination run wild and use the sheet to create a monster mask, an outer space scene or a trip into Wonderland.
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Art Classes for KidsBath Time Mural
6 of 9Take the rubber ducky on a true adventure with bathtub crayons—a hit for all ages. The easy-to-clean, non-toxic crayons rinse off tile and ceramic surfaces with soap and water and let kids get creative while getting clean.
Hint: Let the kids clean the walls themselves with a washcloth to make bath time a lesson in chores.
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Art Classes for KidsMarker Car Rally
7 of 9Grab a few toy cars and tape uncapped markers to the back to make races a little more exciting. Use a large roll of paper or a shallow plastic tub to keep rouge cars at bay. Push off from the starting line to watch the cars leave trails of color in their wake.
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Art Classes for KidsBalloon Me
8 of 9Blow up a few colored balloons and grab some permanent markers. Make a self-portrait, draw a friend or create a magical creature, putting a face onto the balloon. Add some googly eyes and paper add-ons for wings, tiaras and crowns to complete the look.
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