As I was editing old posts I saw this activity hidden with a bunch of other heart ideas and I had to bring it back into the spotlight and turn it into a full post. Shake painting is wonderful not just for mess averse parents but also for mess averse kids. Yes, many children hate getting paint on their hands, and there is no reason they can’t make fun process art too! This Valentine’s day art project for toddlers can be adapted to any theme although I think there is something lovely about the mix of colors on hearts.
This post was done when my daughter was 19 months old and she loved it. I have shake painted with much older kids too, don’t think that just because it’s fun for toddlers that older kids won’t love it.
Gather your materials. You will need a plastic food container, some punched hearts( or cut out from construction paper), a piece of card stock, glue and paint of your choosing.
Gather your materials. You will need a plastic food container, some punched hearts( or cut out from construction paper), a piece of card stock, glue and paint of your choosing.
- Punch out some hearts from construction paper.
- Place them and paint in the food container.
- It’s easier to put the paint in first, they shake better that way. If you are nuts enough to hand your toddler the bottle of paint like I was be ready with a washcloth or my favorite- wipes.
- Put the top on and shake.
- Open and be amazed!
- Fold the card stock and add glue .
- Add hearts to glue and let dry.
- After seeing how cool the hearts looked someone else wanted in on the fun.
Hello, thank you so much for reposting this. I have a 22 month old I know will love this and will make adorable Valentines gifts. Thank you again.
This will be great for my 25mo. old!! A good looking gift she (and I) will be proud to give! Thank you for revisiting this and sharing!
My pleasure!!
If ur kid is over 12 months stop referring to them in months
I can see how this can be annoying, but there is a good reason why parents and educators do this. Development is so quick in the first few years of life and what a newly two-year-old can and is expected to do is completely different than a child who is almost 3.
Allison, I love your website. I’m a grandmother of a 27 month old girl and we’re really getting into the craft activities now. Your site has provided me with so many great ideas that she just loves. With Valentine’s Day coming up soon this post is perfect. We will have a lot of fun with this – AND NO MESS! What could be better?
Corinne,
Thank you so much for your kind words – I couldn’t be happier that the site is useful for you! 27 months is such a fun age, I teach students just a little older than that and they are a ball!