Bright Rocks, Big Smiles!
Looking for a fun, affordable activity that gets your child creative at home and excited about exploring their local community? Painting stones is a fantastic low-cost, no-cost activity that children of all ages can enjoy!
Children naturally love collecting interesting stones, pebbles and rocks. Turning these simple natural treasures into colourful works of art encourages creativity, imagination and even develops their early writing (fine motor) skills!
To do this activity, you can use whatever you already have at home:
- Smooth stones or pebbles (You can find these in a park, beach or garden)
- Old paintbrushes (optional)
- Permanent markers/paints
- Stickers or googly eyes (optional)
Your child might like to make:
- Faces
- Ladybirds and butterflies
- Rainbows
- Flowers
- Animals
- Favourite characters
- Seasonal designs- such as sun, rainbows etc.
Top tips
- Choose smooth stones: This makes for easier decorating for little fingers
- Allow paint/markers to dry completely before handling: This minimizes mess and you can get out and hide your child creations together sooner
- Remember: Always supervise young children when using paint/markers
- Take your dry painted stones on a walk around your local area: hide them in safe and accessible places for others to find – Parks, nature trails, bus stops and village greens are all great places to start
- Children love searching for the perfect hiding spot: You can discuss with your child imagining the excitement on someone’s face when they discover their creation!
- Take photos of your creations before hiding them: A lovely way build memories and look back on your creations together!
