Toddlers and preschoolers love to paint. They also love nature! So here’s a clever and simple activity that combines the two. We’ll show you how to make your very own nature paint brushes, an activity that helps children to get creative and learn about the world around them.
You will need:
- Twigs or small sticks, for the paint brush handle. It’s best if these are as straight as possible, and about the length of a pencil.
- Grass, leaves or flowers for the brush itself – use whatever you can find.
- String or elastic bands to fasten them together.
- Paper and paints, to create a masterpiece with your new nature paint brushes!
While you are out and about looking for materials, give your child a bucket or basket so that they can easily gather and carry their natural treasures.
How to assemble your nature paint brushes
These DIY paint brushes for children are really easy to put together. You will need one twig or stick for each brush.
- Gather together all the natural materials you have found outdoors.
- Fix the grasses and leaves to the stick using an elastic band or with string. Wrap it around tightly, ensuring that the materials won’t fall apart. If you don’t have an elastic band, you could use string or yarn to tie the brush together.
The great thing about these homemade paint brushes is that you can make as many as you like, experimenting with different natural materials and sizes. One brush could be made of a big, bushy bunch of grass. Another might be made entirely from leaves.
How to use nature paint brushes
Here are some top tips on how to use paint brushes made from natural resources.
- Get a large sheet of paper to do your painting.
- Have a palette of paints ready, to dip the brushes in.
- Use different brushes to print different textures on the paper. What effects can you create?
- Try different brush techniques. Paint in a straight line, daub on blobs of paint, or swirl the paint around.
- Looking for a complete DIY painting experience? Use your nature paint brushes with some special, homemade DIY paint!
Contact us
At All About Children, we love to get the children involved in creative activities involving nature. For more information about our nursery, contact us today.