This is one of my favorite super simple art activities for toddlers. Kids love using their cars, trucks, and trains to leave tracks on the paper, a huge hit with boys and girls alike! Painting with toy vehicles also helps kids develop creative thinking since we are using the toys for something other than their intended purpose. This toddler painting activity will be a favorite at your house for sure.
Gather your materials. For this art project, you will need at least one car per child, although I like using a few different ones so there is some variety on the paper. Some paint or an ink pad, paper and a plate or tray for the paint.
Pour enough paint in the plate or tray so that the wheels get sufficiently covered. I put in a little at a time so that there are no globs, just a thin layer to make tracks.Roll your vehicles in the paint and transfer it to the paper!
Add another color of paint to the plate switch up the vehicle and keep going!
* For older children you can even make a designated road, and then add to the activity by making some houses and buildings to glue on it!
Song
The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
round and round,
round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
all through the town!
The driver on the bus goes move on back,
move on back,
move on back,
The driver on the bus goes move on back,
all through the town!
The money on the bus goes clink clink clink,
clink clink clink,
clink clink clink,
The money on the bus goes clink clink clink,
all through the town!
The people on the bus go up and down,
up and down,
up and down,
The people on the bus go up and down,
all through the town!
The babies on the bus go waa waa waa,
waa waa waa,
waa waa waa,
The babies on the bus go waa waa waa
all through the town!
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish,
swish swish swish,
swish swish swish,
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish ,
all through the town!
Books
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by John Deere is a fun toy/ book for little ones. The pages Velcro together to use it as a toy with real wheels but when you open it they have real life pictures of heavy building equipment and if your child is like my son, this book will be well read!Tracks: All Aboard for the Wackiest Train Ride Ever! by David Galef is a funny book about what happens when the man designing the railway tracks breaks his glasses and can’t see properly. Very funny book for your little train enthusiast!
Construction Countdown by K.C Olsonis a counting book that uses backhoes, dump trucks and cement mixers among other things to count. Before I even closed the book my son was signing for more. I read it 4 times since getting it out of the library today. A huge hit here!
ScrapFairy says
ah I really need to do things like this with wyatt, keep inspiring me girl. I should go buy him some paints tomorrow and do this with him. I just hate the idea of a mess and you make it look so fun and clean, hehehe
Phuong says
I love your paper bag track idea. I have been thinking of making one out of fabric to take along outings. Another version of yours to make it more sturdy is to make it out of a file folder and then laminate.
Patty Merry says
I am so glad I found your website. This craft is perfect for the three little ones I am
watching today. 16 months, 2 years and 4 years. I need to get more structure and
activities into their days for my sanity and theirs!
admin says
So happy to help !