Montessori Art Activities To Boost Confidence In Children

The Montessori teaching method recognizes that art is an essential part of a child’s education. To young children, art is more than just an enjoyable activity.

It is crucial in developing their cognitive, sensory, and motor functions.  Most importantly, art activities in Montessori education do not guarantee they will create famous artists; rather, their main focus is to encourage self-expression, creativity, and independent learning.

Teachers and parents incorporate Montessori-inspired art activities into children’s daily routines to activate new brain connections and enhance reading and math skills.

In addition, visual, tactile, and auditory experiences improve sensory discrimination and memory.

Because art projects and preschoolers go hand in hand, I will here explore a variety of age-specific Montessori activities that promote creativity, problem-solving, and freedom of self-expression.

Montessori Art Activities For 2-5 Years Old:

As art nurtures creativity, self-expression, and cherished memories in a child’s early years, I try the following art activities with my children and my young students (2-5 years old).

Collage:

Collage-making is a great art idea to begin with. The word collage originates from the French word “Coller “which suggests ‘to glue’.

Using basic materials like colored construction paper, a glue stick, white glue, and a pair of scissors, one can create endless collages.

First of all, to make collages you need to come up with some collage ideas. Although there are thousands of collage-making items available both online and off line here I am sharing some of them:

I always prefer the simplest way to teach my children or my students collage making.  I get a large bowl and then start putting things in it.

I lay a plastic tablecloth and then ask them to do the work.  I assist them in handling the glue and white sticks because they are using it for the first time.

Next, I ask my children or my students to glue these things.  They start doing things.

After teaching them the basics, I move on to the next stage of collage making.

I tell them to draw a picture (anything of their choice). After they finish, I give them scissors and tell them to cut their drawings carefully from the paper.

Next, they place their drawings freshly cut from their drawing books in white art paper. They stick them with the help of the glue. The process and the experiment of collage-making continue.

You can try different methods of collage-making. Here I share with you a few:

1. Cut photos from magazines, newspapers, or print collage photos from the internet to use in collage
2. Let your child make a collage with photos of your family and special events.
3. Collect different objects from outside your home and let your child make a collage with them.

Handprint Poem:

Making this artwork with my students and my children is one of my favorite art activities.

Modern Printing technology has made it easier where you can print your own photo or anything of your choice in crockery or wherever you like.

What I do, is I tell my children to look at the cup where I have printed a family photo using this modern printing technology.

Furthermore, I try to make them understand that we will make a similar kind of thing using some basic material.

Then I tell them to bring a sheet of brightly colored construction paper. Next,  I put brightly colored finger paint in the bowl. After that, I urge them to dip their palms in the paint.

Furthermore,  I tell them to place their hands on the brightly colored construction paper so that the impression of their palm gets imprinted on the paper.

Meanwhile, I print out a poem of my choice.  I cut it out in the appropriate size and glue it to the other side of the sheet. Finally, I put it on a frame and hung it on my wall.

You can use this poem for inspiration

“A Day”

By Emily Dickinson

“I’ll tell you how the sun rose,

A ribbon at a time.

The steeples swam in amethyst,

The news like squirrels ran…”

Play-Doh:

In my next Montessori art activities lesson I make abundant use of Play-Doh because its uses are nearly endless.  It allows artistic expression and creativity.

Furthermore, it provides an excellent hand and finger exercise. In addition, I use it to teach counting, shapes, and colors.

There are two options available for Play-Doh – one is homemade and the other one is ready-made which you can directly purchase market (both online and offline).

If you insist on me to suggest one, I shall go with the readymade Play-Doh because it is convenient and cost-effective.

What is more, I recommend using a cookie sheet because the use of Play-Doh can be messy.

Here I present a list of engaging art activities that you can try with your children. I have done these activities with my children and my students multiple times and therefore, these are tried and tested.

• Rolling and Shaping: Teach your children how to roll balls using their palms and later with their fingers for fine motor skills.
• Imprint Exercise: Press coins into flattened discs to make imprints.
• Coin Shell Game: Hide a coin in a ball, shuffle it, and let the child guess its location to improve concentration.
• Color Learning: Use different colors to teach color recognition.
• Counting and Math: Create identical balls for counting, addition, and subtraction exercises.
• Cutting Practice: Use scissors to cut Play-Doh, enhancing hand strength and coordination.
• Sensory Play: Encourage kneading, pounding, and shaping with tools like rolling pins and hammers.
• Tactile Letters and Shapes: Form letters and shapes using Play-Doh strips

Water Colors:

To my children and young students painting with watercolor is a simple and fun activity. I provided them with a pad of watercolor, and jar of water and taught them how to wet the brush and apply color.

You too can approach in this way but if you want to go a step further you can buy various art supplies like paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, and paints. Moreover, you can provide a chalkboard to enhance the experience.

Creative Techniques To Apply:

• It is better to use tools other than paintbrushes, such as cotton balls, Q-tips, leaves, or sponges.
• Encourage your children learning by discussing color names and writing words on their artwork.
• Display the children’s artwork with their names to introduce letters, numbers and reading.
• Create tape designs on paper, paint over them, and remove the tape to reveal patterns.
• Experiment with different painting tools like toothbrushes, sponges, cut vegetables, or straws.
• Set up an object for the child to observe and paint or draw.

Creative Apps:

In today’s digital era, no one can ignore its bright side. Therefore, to teach children art activities there are several good tablet apps available for drawing, coloring, tracing, and other creative activities. Some examples include:

More Ideas:

• Create together by bundling art materials and letting your child explore.
• Make fingerprints with different colors.
• Use food stamping (cut vegetables into shapes and stamps them with paint).
• Make rubber stamp pads using a sponge or cardboard.
• Let your child trace lines and shapes for motor skills practice. 

Abstract Free Design Apps:

LC Free, Fresh Art, Kaleidoscope, Tripping Fest, Drawing Images

These iPad apps let kids experiment with digital art, using the iPad’s graphical capabilities.

Sumanta De

Sumanta De is an educator. He has been teaching students for more than 16 years following the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. He has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
He is nurturing his children abiding by the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. His passion for Montessori methods goes beyond the classroom.
Hence, he shares his experiences and insights through a dedicated Montessori blog and a YouTube channel under the name “NewChild Montessori”. He aims to offer valuable guidance to both parents and educators.
Education: M.A. English, Masters in Child Psychology & Bachelor’s Degree in Montessori Teachers Training