INSIDE: Sock Painting Process Art Activity is super fun and easy messy process art activity for toddlers and preschoolers! Get out those old socks and use them to paint in this fun sensory art activity.
What is Process Art?
Essentially, process art is all about focusing on the act of making rather than the end result. Kids get to play with materials, explore various techniques, and just let their imaginations run wild. There are no templates or step-by-step outcomes expected, which means every creation is unique and the experience is totally stress-free.
What’s cool about process art is how it turns art creation into an exploratory session. Children learn about textures, colors, and sensory reactions without even realizing they’re getting an educational experience. It’s all about discovery and allowing natural curiosity to lead the way. For example, painting with tools other than brushes, like feathers or sponges, can give kids a completely different perspective on how they can express themselves through art.
Plus, engaging in process art can be incredibly beneficial for a child’s development. It boosts confidence since there’s no right or wrong way to create, enhances decision-making skills as they choose their materials and colors, and even aids in developing fine motor skills as they manipulate small items or mix colors. As a parent or teacher, it’s a joy to watch kids get totally absorbed in their art without the pressure of having to produce something specific. It’s all about the joy of creating, and honestly, could we ask for a better approach to art with kids?
Sensory Painting
If your sock drawer is anything like ours you have a few socks that have lost their match. Well I have the perfect way they can become useful again! With this unique sensory painting and colouring mixing process art activity. It’s perfect for toddlers and a great one to take outdoors.
Looking for more process art activities? Check out this list of the best process art ideas for kids:
Supplies
- Socks
- Washable Paint
- Bowls
- Butcher Paper or large sheet of white paper
- Masking Tape
How to Set Up Sock Painting
Spread a large sheet of paper on a table or wall and secure it with the masking tape. Cover your little ones hands with socks. Pour some paint into bowls or you can just pour paint on to the sheet of paper, if taped to a flat surface. Let them dip their socked hands in the paint and mix the colours on the paper.
My then 2 year olds were a bit apprehensive at first but quickly got into it and loved it!
Once they were done painting I removed the socks and they had a go with their hands! You can combine this process with a tape resist art to create something unique!
Age Suitability
My twins are 2 years old. This activity is great for toddlers 2 years old and up.
Skills Developed
This was a great activity to talk about colour mixing! Other skills developed include:
- Colour recognition
- Language development
- Hand-eye coordination
- Fine motor skills
- Imaginative play
- Creativity
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.
WILL YOU TRY SOCK PAINTING: SENSORY PROCESS ART ACTIVITY WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!
