INSIDE: Sponge Painted Fish: Outdoor Summer Art is an easy painting activity for toddlers and preschoolers (and even older kids will get a kick out this). Paint a giant rainbow fish using sponges! This makes a great summer art activity!
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How to Set Up a Sponge Painted Fish: Outdoor Summer Art
- Grab a large roll of white paper, cut out a large piece and draw the outline of fish. Add as much detail as desired.
- Use brown packing tape to secure the picture on to a fence or hard flat surface.
NOTE: although washable kids paint comes out of most clothing it may not come off your wooden fence. Test before hand or place a large plastic sheet under your fish to help prevent the paint from getting on to your fence. When doing these types of activities with my kids, I keep close eye on them to make sure they don’t start painting on the fence and I make sure to rinse off any paint that does get on the fence by accident right away.
- Grab 6 paper plates, pour out some washable kids paint in the various colours of the rainbow on to each plate.
- Add a sponge to each plate.
- Invite your toddler or preschooler to dip the sponges into the make print the paint on the fish to decorate it like a rainbow.
How they Painted
This was a real hit right away. My camera froze up when they first started so I wasn’t able to capture the beginning of the creation of the rainbow fish. At first my 3 year olds wanted to use the sponges like sponges and wash the paint on by moving the sponge side to side. I showed them how to dab the sponge instead to create a beautiful textured print. After the fish was complete they started mixing colouring. Then they started using their hands. At this point, I decided to pull out another sheet of paper for them to free paint.
I just love painting outside and this one was a real winner!
Supplies for Sponge Painted Fish: Outdoor Summer Art
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- Large Sheet of Paper
- Black Sharpie
- Scissors
- Washable Kids Paint
- Sponges
- Paper Plates
- Smocks
- Brown packing Tape
Age Suitability
This activity is good for kids 2 years and up. My kids are 3, 3, and 6 year old.
Looking for more summer and outdoor activity ideas? Check out of these other round-ups for more ways to keep your toddler or preschooler busy this summer:
- 25+ Outdoor Water Activities to Keep Kids Cool This Summer
- 40+ Awesome Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids
- 30+ Easy Outdoor Art Projects for Kids
- 60+ Awesome Outdoor Activities for Kids
- 45+ Awesome Water Sensory Bins for Toddlers & Preschoolers
- 40+ Water Table Activities for Toddlers
- 21+ Spray Bottle Activities for Toddler
- 20 Amazing Backyard Obstacle Courses
- 21+ Amazing Summer Sensory Bins
- 25+ Adorable Summer Crafts for Toddlers
- 40+ Ice Sensory Play
- 12 Healthy Smoothie Recipes for Toddlers + Kids
The Best Book of Sensory Bins
WILL YOU TRY SPONGE PAINTED RAINBOW FISH WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!
