Big Stick Painting

The basic idea

You need a paintbrush and a big stick – bamboo garden cane is ideal, but anything long, like a mop or brush handle. Tape or use elastic bands to attach the brush to the stick.

Over to you, wee one

Good news, we’re painting with water so they can go wild with very little mess! Dry slabs/pavement is ideal, but your kitchen floor or other hard floor might work too as long as you can see ‘marks’.

Cheeky bonuses

• Children don’t need to ‘sit nicely’ to engage in mark making / visual art
• Foundations of literacy skills
• Gross motor skills (big movements)
• Concentration and focus (maybe you can finish your cup of tea for once!)

Variations

• Older children can try to practice writing
• Play music and dance while you paint
• Break out rolls of old wallpaper and real paint/pens if you have them and feel brave

And remember…

It’s about fun rather than accurate drawings, but you can still value what they create – take photos before their marks dry and share them with pride.