Black History Month is a special time of year where we celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. It’s a month dedicated to learning, understanding, and appreciating the rich cultural heritage that has shaped the nation and the world. In the spirit of celebration and creativity, we’ve got a fantastic craft idea that’s not only fun but also educational. It’s called the Cotton Ball Painted Heart Craft, a simple yet meaningful activity that combines art with the message of diversity and unity.
Activity Overview
- Age Suitability: This craft is good for toddlers aged children 18 months old and up with adult assistance.
- Mess Level: The mess level for this craft is medium.
- Difficulty to Create: Low.
Materials Needed
- Cotton Balls
- White Cardstock
- Clothespins
- Paper Plate (for the paint)
- Skin Tone Coloured Paints
- Construction Paper cut in the shape of a heart
Step by Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace: take a sheet of construction paper and fold it in half and cut out a heart shape. Lay out all your materials on a flat surface. Place the white cardstock in front of you, and set the heart-shaped outline construction paper on top.
- Clip and Dip: Attach cotton balls to clothespins. These will be your “paintbrush.” Pour your skin tone paints onto the paper plate, keeping the colors separate.
- Painting Time: Dip the cotton ball into the paint of your choice and gently press it onto the cardstock, following the outline of the heart template. Repeat this process with different skin tone paints, filling in the heart shape with a beautiful mosaic of colors.
- Let It Dry: Once you’ve completed your heart collage, carefully remove the heart template and let your artwork dry.
- Display Your Work: Write a meaningful quote around the heart for Black History Month. We chose a quote from Maya Angelou about love. Find the perfect spot to display your Cotton Ball Painted Heart Collage. It could be on the fridge, in your room, or even given as a gift to someone special.
Tips for Success
- Experiment with Colors: Feel free to mix the paints to create new skin tones. This is a great way to explore the diversity of our world.
- Control the Paint: To avoid overly saturated cotton balls, gently dab them on an extra piece of paper to remove excess paint before applying to your cardstock.
- Keep It Neat: Use a separate clothespin for each color to avoid mixing the paints unintentionally.
Skills Learned
This craft is not just about creating a beautiful piece of art; it’s also about learning and developing important skills. Here’s what kids can learn from this activity:
- Fine Motor Skills: Using clothespins to grip the cotton balls helps in strengthening hand muscles and coordination.
- Color Recognition and Mixing: Children get to experiment with different skin tones, enhancing their understanding of colors and how to mix them.
- Cultural Awareness: By discussing the significance of Black History Month and the diversity represented in their artwork, kids gain a deeper appreciation for the stories and achievements of African Americans.
- Creativity and Expression: This activity encourages kids to express themselves through art, using colors and textures to convey messages of unity and love.
Creating a Cotton Ball Painted Heart Collage is a wonderful way to celebrate Black History Month, fostering a sense of creativity, awareness, and respect. It’s a reminder that, like the pieces of a collage, our differences make the world a more beautiful place. Happy crafting!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
Cotton Ball Painted Heart Collage
Materials
- Cotton Balls
- White Card stock
- Clothespins
- Paper Plate (for the paint)
- Skin Tone Coloured Paints
- Construction Paper cut in the shape of a heart
Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace: take a sheet of construction paper and fold it in half and cut out a heart shape. Lay out all your materials on a flat surface. Place the white cardstock in front of you, and set the heart-shaped outline construction paper on top.
- Clip and Dip: Attach cotton balls to clothespins. These will be your "paintbrush." Pour your skin tone paints onto the paper plate, keeping the colors separate.
- Painting Time: Dip the cotton ball into the paint of your choice and gently press it onto the cardstock, following the outline of the heart template. Repeat this process with different skin tone paints, filling in the heart shape with a beautiful mosaic of colors.
- Let It Dry: Once you've completed your heart collage, carefully remove the heart template and let your artwork dry.
- Display Your Work: Write a meaningful quote around the heart for Black History Month. We chose a quote from Maya Angelou about love. Find the perfect spot to display your Cotton Ball Painted Heart Collage. It could be on the fridge, in your room, or even given as a gift to someone special.
