Creative Arts

2.5–4 years

Materials

• Cardboard (The back of a cereal box works great!)
• Paper plate or plastic tray for paint
• Washable, non-toxic paint
• Cotton balls
• Clothespins
• Painter’s tape
• Pencil

Prepare the paint materials

1. Pour each paint colour in separate areas of the paper plate. Try to avoid mixing the paint colours on the plate.
2. Clip the clothespin to a cotton ball. This will be used to apply the colour. Prepare a clothespin and cotton ball for each colour.

Prepare the canvas 

1. Layer the painter’s tape on a smooth table until you form a rectangle approximate 6″x8″.
2. Using a pencil, draw a heart on the painter’s tape.
3. Slowly peel the rectangle off the table and cut out the heart.
4. Apply the sticky heart in the centre of the cardboard.

Begin painting

1. Have your child take the clothespin and blot the paint colour onto the cotton ball.
2. Paint the canvas by blotting various colours around the edge of the heart. Your child may choose to experiment by swooshing the cotton ball as an alternative method of application.
3. Feel free to paint all areas of the cardboard to add more artistic flair and colour to your painting.

4. Continue until all the edges of the heart have been covered.

Write a special Valentine’s Day message

1. Once the paint is dry to the touch, remove the sticky heart from the canvas.
2. Let the paint fully dry.
3. Write a special message inside the heart by discussing with your child who they want to gift the art piece to, and what they would like to say to their special Valentine!