Need a quick and simple activity to keep your little one entertained?
I wrote this post as a go-to list of easy preschool art activities that require little prep but still keep little hands engaged and learning – so you can homeschool older siblings, get things done around the house, or even work from home!
These activities aren’t complicated and will give you quick wins now.
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Art Activities for Preschoolers
Preschoolers love to discover new activities and textures and while art may look like “just play,” it’s doing so much more for your child!
During art time, preschool kids are developing:
- Fine motor skills (cutting, gluing, drawing)
- Pre-writing skills (grip strength and control)
- Creativity and imagination
- Confidence and independence
- Focus and patience
And honestly, it gives you a chance to breathe and maybe even catch up on some things for for a few minutes.
Supplies to Keep on Hand (Your Preschool Art Kit)
Having a simple art bin ready to go makes everything easier.
I like to keep ours stocked so we can pull it out anytime without overthinking it!
Here’s what we always have at home.
Basic Supplies
- Crayola Washable Paint Set (easy clean-up makes a big difference!)
- Watercolor Paints (this set is super affordable and has really beautiful colors)
- Melissa & Doug Jumbo Crayons (these are easier for little hands that are still learning how to hold a pencil to use)
- Preschool Safety Scissors
- Glue sticks + white glue
- Construction paper
Fun Craft Supplies Preschoolers and Older Siblings Love
- Pom poms (my kids love to organize these things by shape and color too – we use two bins like these to store them)
- Pipe cleaners
- Stickers (this is a great set with a ton of different animals, foods, insects, and more – kids can decorate different scenes with them)
- Googly eyes
- Craft sticks – this set offers a great variety and has 7 different colored sticks!
How to Organize Kids Art Supplies
This is a really fun colourful art cart to keep everything together in – you can roll it away into a closet when you’re done!
Here’s what ours looks like.
Related: How to Organize Your Kids’ Art Supplies
25 Preschool Art Activities to Try Today
I’ve made this list super simple and practical so you and your child can just start now.
These are all activities you can actually do without spending hours prepping.
No-Prep Art Activities (Perfect for Busy Days)
These are my go-to when I need something right now.
- Coloring pages – you can download and print my free alphabet coloring pages for toddlers for educational fun!
- Sticker art – just give them a sheet and paper. Simple sheets like these are fun for kids and last a long time.
- Free drawing time – just hand your little one some pencil crayons and white paper or a sketch pad (these are super cute!)
- Dot marker art – Do A Dot Art Markers are fantastic
- Chalk drawing – indoors on a chalkboard like this or outside! These are great and don’t break easily
Painting Activities Kids Love
Painting always feels like a “special” activity to kids – even when it’s super simple.
- Finger painting – we have these ones since they’re easy to clean!
- Sponge painting – my kids love these things
- Cotton ball painting
- Water painting – paint with water (these water paint brushes prevent big spills) on construction paper, your fence, or in these Water Wow! coloring books (my kids would spend hours on these)
- Nature painting – use paints to color leaves, sticks, and flowers you’ve collected on a nature walk
Sensory Art Activities
These are a little messier but worth it!
- Shaving cream art – this one works well
- Salt painting
- Ice painting – kids love colored ice cubes
- Sand art – we have these colourful sands and the kids love to paint and play with small toys in it
- Paint in a ziplock bag – this is a great mess-free option
More fun preschool resources:
- 40 Easy Preschool Activities Kids Love (And Keep Them Busy!)
- Free Printable Double Sided Phonics Flash Cards
- Top 30 Alphabet Activities for Preschool Students
- Alphabet Flash Cards for Preschoolers (Free PDF)
Cutting & Gluing Crafts
These activities are great for building those fine motor skills.
- Paper collage – all you need are safety scissors, construction paper, and a glue stick. My youngest absolutely loves this activity! You can also have your child draw a picture and the cut it out and paste it onto a different color background.
- Shape animals – pre-cut circles, squares, triangles and have your child create animals with them
- Tear-and-glue art – skip the scissors and let your child rip construction paper instead
- Simple paper chains – pre-cut rectangles and have your child use a glue stick to create a chain of them
- Cut and paste combo books like these
Seasonal & Themed Art Ideas
Planning seasonal lessons is so much fun – and its a great option to rotate between different ideas throughout the year.
- Fall leaf crafts (painting, collage, journalling, etc.)
- Christmas ornament crafts (check out our easy DIY snow globe craft!)
- Spring flower art (painting, collage, and journalling is also great here)
- Summer sun paintings
- Holiday-themed coloring pages
How to Keep Art Time Simple (Even on Busy Days)
Let’s be real – if the activity is too complicated, we’re probably not going to do it.
Here’s what works for us:
- Plan for activities to last 30 to 60 minutes max
- Set supplies out ahead of time (even the night before)
- Choose one activity per day (less overwhelm!)
- Rotate materials so things feel “new” again (you could pick your top 7 and rotate daily)
- Embrace a little mess – but try to keep it contained to prevent stains and big deep cleans later on, haha
Free Printable Preschool Art Pack
If you want something ready to go (my personal favorite on busy days), I’ve put together a simple printable pack you can use right away.
You can get these here:
- Free printable alphabet worksheets
- Preschool math worksheets
- Free alphabet coloring pages (You can get these in English and Croatian!)
Best Art Supplies for Preschoolers (Mom-Approved Favorites)
These are the items we reach for again and again:
- Crayola Washable Paint Set – easy clean-up and bright colors
- Do A Dot Art Markers – zero prep and so fun
- Melissa & Doug Easel – if you don’t have room for a free standing one, this tabletop easel is great for magnets and drawing
- Preschool Safety Scissors – safe and easy for little hands
- Water Wow! Coloring Books – perfect mess-free option for travel or quiet time
- Sticker Scene Books – easy for little ones to do independently, I was honestly surprised by how long the kids would play with the characters before sticking them on the pages too, haha.
Tips for Managing the Mess (Without Losing Your Mind)
Let’s talk about the part most moms worry about… the mess.
Here’s what helps me keep it under control:
- Use a wipeable tablecloth or tray – I have an outdoor table cloth like this and use trays like these for the kids water activities
- Keep wipes or paper towel nearby
- Choose washable supplies whenever possible
- Have a designated “art space” – we like the kitchen table
- Put everything away right after – kids love helping with this too
More Homeschool Resources for Families:
- How to Set Up Your Homeschool Room for Success
- Sample Homeschool Schedules for Multiple Kids
- 10 Best Homeschool Ideas for Kindergarten at Home
- Our Honest The Good and The Beautiful Curriculum Review
- A Simple Kindergarten Homeschool Schedule
How to Encourage Creativity Without Over-Directing
This was a big one for me to learn – because it’s so tempting to want things to look “right,” but kids get so much more out of art when they’re the ones leading.
Try this instead:
- Let kids choose colors and materials
- Avoid correcting their work (or doing it for them)
- Ask questions or say things like: “Tell me about your picture!” or “What did you make here?”
- Focus on the child’s effort, not the final result
Some of my kids’ most creative ideas came from just being left alone with paper and crayons – they’ve also grown the most in their skills this way.
Final Thoughts on Preschool Art Activities
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: art and other educational activities don’t have to be elaborate or Pinterest perfect to be meaningful.
Some of the best moments have come from the simplest activities – just sitting together in the morning at the table, creating, chatting, and enjoying the day!
Start small. Keep things simple. And don’t worry if it gets a little messy.
Those are usually the best memories anyway!
Which art activities will you try? What are your favorite preschool art supplies? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy creating, friends!
– Nikki
