Today, I’ll show you how I set up a life-size self portrait art activity for my 3-year-old and 1-year-old in minutes using only three craft supplies.
We really don’t do a whole lot of art projects at home. This was the first one we’d done in quite a while, actually, and it turned out to be such a hit that we’ve done it three times this month!
How to Set Up a Life-Size Self Portrait Art Activity
Supplies
For this activity, you’ll need
- butcher paper (we used this exact 36″x75′ roll)
- markers or crayons
- masking tape
This art activity is so simple to set up. There’s only 3 steps.
Instructions
- Just tape a large piece of butcher paper (make sure the length is longer than your toddler!) to the floor.
Taping the paper all the way around is ESSENTIAL. I tried just taping the top and bottom, but the paper still kept moving around as the girls liked walking all over it and sitting on the paper.
Make it easier for them to color without ripping their artwork in half by taping all the way around the edges to keep the paper secure on the floor.
2. Have kids lie down on the paper and trace around them with a marker.
My 3-year-old and 1-year-old were surprisingly cooperative for this. Little Sis seemed mildly terrified throughout the entire one minute process, but she stayed completely still and I gave her some extra kisses when I got her up.
These outlines will look a lot like a crime scene at first, but I assure you, they’ll look a lot better after they get colored!
3. Last, pass out the coloring supplies and let them color!
Elena asked me to draw eyes, hair, and a smile for her, but she colored her self portrait all by herself. (Little Sis may have “helped” a tiny bit, too.)
She concentrated so hard on getting her rainbow socks to look just right. I’ll admit, the socks turned out pretty well!
Coloring SUpplies
I was a little hesitant about giving her markers, but I explained how special they were and how we must only use them on paper or they’d be taken away. She was so excited to use them, that she was very careful to color only on the paper and not on the floor.
We used these washable markers (labeled “ultra clean”) and the stray marks did wipe off with a damp paper towel very easily. I’d give this set two thumbs up!
Little Sis used crayons to color her silhouette because she absolutely cannot be trusted with markers yet!
I don’t think she minded.
She was also fairly preoccupied with the little dot stickers.
What We’re Learning
This activity went even better than I ever could have imagined. Seriously.
I brought out some dot stickers, and Elena colored and put stickers along the lines/road she drew. This simple art project kept her busy ALL. DAY.
So much creativity going on. So much fine motor work happening with the stickers and markers.
By the evening, this is what we ended up with:
Yes, it’s pretty crazy looking, but when I think about how much time Elena spent coloring this and how much she’s grown over the past year, I can’t help but love it.
She had a story for every line, circle, and stray mark. (Which she chattered on about the ENTIRE time I made dinner a few feet away from her!) Imagination is definitely something that can be grown and developed, and I’d say this activity really got her brain going!
What I Did With The Art When It Was Done
We didn’t end up saving this particular piece because it was SOOOO big.
And I’m not really sure what we would’ve done with it if we had saved it anyway. Instead I took lots of pictures of the girls’ art project and I plan on including it in our family photobook for the end of the year.
The drawing stayed on the floor for a full 24 hours before I peeled the tape off and put the entire thing in the recycling bin.
Your Turn to Make Life-Size Self Portraits
Grab a roll of butcher paper, posterboard, or even break down a large cardboard box and make life-size portraits with your kids.
I’d love to see what your kids portraits look like! Follow @entertainyourtoddler on Instagram or Facebook and tag me!
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