Great Art Sites for Kids

Kea Coloring Book "All the fun. None of the mess!" This free program lets kids color, save and print. It's like a coloring book on your computer. At least 250 more pictures can be downloaded from the site and added to the coloring books. You can download the program at various download sites (the Kea site links to C/NET's Download, which works fine). We used Educational Freeware as a personal preference.

Kid Cartoonists This site (blog?) lets kids post their art for all to see. Even has a manga section. Also has various puzzles for kids. "Under each drawing I post encouraging comments. The response from kids, parents and teachers has been terrific."

KinderArt "is the largest collection of free art lessons on the Internet. What began in 1997 as a few helpful ideas for teachers and parents, has since grown into an enormous collection of resources featuring thousands of free lesson plans, ideas and resources.” Good help for busy art teachers.

Living Colour from The Australian Museum Online. This is a good explanation of colors and how we see them, with interactive activities online for kids.

PBS Kids Art The art section of the huge PBS Kids site. Mainly lets kids color characters from PBS Kids TV shows.

Virtual Lite Brite is one name for this animated site. Fun and artistic.

Drawing for Children is a great, very cool, free download (Windows only) from the Netherlands. It says "drawing" but it has been used in computer labs for language arts, too! You can enter text and load .bmp files from Windows Paint. "Drawing for Children is a free drawing program for children with many nice options. The best way to learn to use it is simply to use it. There is though a document describing the use of the program. For more information, see the readme file."

Free Coloring Many more coloring pages to print out; dental, flowers, etc.

Ivy's Coloring Pages features pages to print and color, online coloring, links to other sites.

Coloring for kids Free, printable coloring book pages ! You can choose from 1000's of printable coloring pages. Coloring pages for children of all ages with drawings to print and color. A large selection of colorings so your children can find their favorite cartoons . More than 10,000 printable coloring sheets.

Coloringcastle is an awesome, awesome page. It has coloring sheets for every holiday, alphabet, numbers, military, space, animals, food guide pyramid etc...etc... Needless to say there are many good coloring sheets for you all so please check this site out and enjoy! This site uses PDF files so be prepared for that.

Crayola Yes! The crayon people! The site has "Coloring and Crafts" with printable coloring projects, "Games and Fun" with some good color-related online games, "For Educators" with lesson plans and more, and "For Parents" with various activities. A well-made site.

DLTK Kids Coloring Dozens of coloring pages to print out. You may also make calendars from here.

Design Your Own Bill from US Bureau of Engraving & Printing. Lets kids design and color their own paper currency, with funny faces, etc. Computer kids had fun doing this.

Activity TV This truly excellent site has at least a couple of hundred good instructional videos on subjects like paper airplanes, science projects, magic, making jewelry, crafts, origami, juggling, cheerleading, cooking (!), and more! It also has Legos action videos and several good games! The videos are really world-class, with adult instruction and printable parts lists. Projects on the videos can be accessed by skill levels, categories, most viewed, etc. You need to look at Activity TV!

Activity Village Here's a site from the UK that will help out parents and teachers. "Welcome to Activity Village, where you will find coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids crafts, puzzles, printables, Sudoku for kids and much, much more ... Click on the menu bars above to explore over 3000 pages of activities to help you keep your kids busy!" Tons of coloring pages! The site has a popup to start, x it out or just subscribe.

Art Just For Kids Humongous portal to dozens of other sites. Has to be seen to be believed. Go there and check it out!

Art Zone Interactive art that you can make online. From the National Gallery of Art. There are 18 interactive projects. You will need Shockwave to make these work.

Activities online, for young children

• About: Children's Books
  A complete and comprehensive guide to children's books

• Abracadabra!
  With this magic word you can amaze all your friends! You can find a whole bunch of magic tricks!

• Artists Helping Children
  Take advantage of the huge childrens' arts resources pages of kids' coloring pages and coloring printouts, childrens' free arts and crafts projects & ideas, paper folding projects & origami project ideas, kids' drawing lessons, articles for parents to involve their children in the arts, articles on how art heals & how to get children involved in community service, how to design and decorate your children's rooms, and much more.

• Building Blocks Publishing
  Building Blocks Publishing offers short, practical ideas for adults to use with young children... filled with exciting, playful games and activities.

• Children's Party Games
  Over 400 party games: children's party games, adult party games. For children's birthday party, adult birthday party, family party, Christmas, Halloween, St. Valentine's Day, wedding, etc.

• Crayola Creativity Central
  Crayola Creativity Central offers kids arts and crafts ideas for rainy day fun. We also have coloring books and pages, art and craft projects, games, school supplies, art education and lesson plans for use in both school and home activities.

• DLTK's Printable Crafts for Kids
  DLTK's Crafts for Kids features a variety of fun, printable children's crafts, coloring pages and more including projects for holidays, educational themes and some of our children's favorite cartoon characters.

• Family Crafts
  Don't miss all the fun that this Web site has to offer you.... from book reviews, colouring pages, photos... and so much more.

• Happy Feet Dance & Tanglin Arts Dance Studio
  Dance and exercise classes for adults and children including ballet, jazz, tap, yoga, pilates and bellydancing.

• Idea Box - Early Childhood Education and Activity Resources
  Chock full of ideas, crafts & message boards for your little ones.

• The Perpetual Preschool
  A very large list of art & song themes, learning center ideas... and well, just a ton of info to be found.

• Playtime for Toddlers
  Creative, thrifty and resourceful activities for parents of toddlers. Recipes for bubbles, paper mache, paints, play dough, and cooking. Coloring, craft and indoor gardening projects.

• Postman Pat
  Check out Postman Pat and his friends in Greendale. Sounds, free email, virtual cards, desktop themes, poll, and much more.

• Preschool Coloring Book
  Let's get ready to color! Preschool Coloring book is dedicated to helping parents, teachers, and educator help preschoolers explore the creative world of drawing and coloring. We supply line and no line coloring pages that can easily be printed, as well as journaling ideas for your preschooler.

• Sesame Street
  Click here for fun, games, friends... and resources for parents too.

• Thomas the Tank Engine
  Have a grand ol' time with Thomas & Friends!

• UpToTen.com
  With over A THOUSAND educational games and activities for children aged up to ten years old! UpToTen is a safe place to play and learn where your child will feel right at home, right away. - UpToTen Kids - the fun place to learn on-line

• Very Best Kids
  Creative ideas and fun activities for you and your kids.

Apple Tree

What You Need:

Brown and green markers

Popsicle sticks, 4

Tacky glue

Cereal-box cardboard

Magnetic tape, 5 strips

Child safety scissors

Small red pom-poms


What You Do:

1. Colour the Popsicle sticks brown. Glue one Popsicle stick onto the cardboard to make a tree trunk. Glue the remaining Popsicle sticks above the trunk to make branches. Draw leaves next to the branches.
   
   
2. Glue a strip of magnetic tape to each Popsicle stick branch.
   
   
3. Cut the remaining strip of magnetic tape into small pieces. Glue a piece of magnetic tape onto each pom pom to make apples. Place to apples on the Popsicle stick branches.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

The Carrot Patch

What You Need:

Green construction paper

Child safety scissors

Popsicle sticks, 4

Orange, black, and brown markers

White craft glue

Cotton ball



What You Do:

1. Fold the green construction paper in half; cut it into two pieces. Cut carrot tops from one half of the construction paper.
   
   
2. Colour the Popsicle sticks orange. Glue the carrot tops onto the sticks.
   
   
3. With grown up help, cut small slits in the other half of the construction paper. Insert the carrots into the slits. Draw a rabbit with black or brown markers. Glue a cotton ball to the paper for the rabbit's tail.

Visit us at http://little-red-bus.com

Flying Paper Bird

What You Need:

Child safety scissors

White paper plate, small

Yarn

Tape

Scrap brown paper

Markers


What You Do:

1. Fold the paper plate in half; then, open it flat. Make wings by cutting along the inside circle on both sides of the plate, stopping before the fold line as shown.
   
   
2. Ask a grown up to poke a small hole in the centre of the fold Tie a knot in the bottom of the yarn; then thread the yarn up through the hole.
   
   
3. Fold the plate in half; tape it to hold. Cut a triangle beak from the scrap paper. Tape it in place.
   
   
4. Bend the wings outward. Colour the bird with markers; then hang it up to fly!

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Funny Flower

What You Need:

Child safety scissors

Construction paper, assorted colours

White craft glue

Plastic bottle cap

Pom-pom

Popsicle stick

Green marker


What You Do:

1. Cut out petal shapes from the construction paper.
   
   
2. Spread the glue over the top of the bottle cap. Glue the petals around the cap. Allow to dry.
   
   
3. Colour the posicle stick green. Glue the popsicle stick stem onto the back of the bottle-cap flower.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Lovely Ladybugs

What You Need:

Paper muffin cups

Glue sticks

Light coloured construction paper

Green and black markers

Red tempera paint

Plastic bottle cap



What You Do:

1. To make the flowers, glue the muffin cups onto the construction paper. Use a green marker to draw on leaves and stems.
   
   
2. To make the ladybugs, dip he bottle cap into the paint. Then, press the cap onto the paper and muffin cup flowers. Let dry.
   
   
3. Use a black marker to draw the ladybugs' wings, antennae, legs, and spots.
   

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

10 great kids / earlychildhood sites - Part 3

Preschool Curriculum for childen ages 2-5.


~Clicking on the Link will vote for Childcare Topsites!~
As teachers we are each others greatest resource. Top of the Class was created for teachers to share their ideas and talents with each other via their classroom websites.


This site has free printables for the classroom and child care.


Huge collection of preschool resources including tons of theme ideas, printables, graphic adoptions, kids games and more!


Funny poems for kids & funny videos. New - David Cook Fan Page free lyrics and mp3 downloads, kids activities arts and crafts, free coloring pages for children, funny animal poems, school poems, birthday poems, free newsletter, surftips for children!


An online teaching resource that offers hands-on, child centered thematic units, word walls, file folder games, the Preschool Playground Newsletter plus loads more! Planning has never been so easy!


Bookvaria.com offers new and unique interactive online children education opportunities. Bookvaria is a virtual country and a healthy place for children to start their education.



Topsite List - websites with products or information for your home or family.


Seattle PreschoolRock.com is the largest parenting network on the Internet dedicated to providing an insider's scoop on local preschooler-friendly events and activities in the Seattle, Wa. area.


Crafts for kids preschool to preteen activities and crafts. Make wonderful, simple crafts projects with your children. Monthly craft projects delivered by Mail to your child. A great reward for great

10 great kids / earlychildhood sites

Welcome to Making Learning Fun: A website designed to do just that! Whether you are a parent, teacher, or daycare provider, you'll love our site filled with educational printables and activities.


Kinder Printables offers free learning materials for ages pre-k thru 1st grade. Original, hand drawn artwork. New materials daily! *New Kinder Curriculum too!*


Site with online stories, printable alphabet, printable coloring pages, rhymes about animals, jokes and riddles, puzzles.


This Site Contains Both Free and Membership Printables For Early Childhood Education.


The site contains activity ideas, free printables, affordable website & banner design, childcare locator, curriculum, links, and more!


Hands on Learning Keeps Kids Motivated! We have nearly 200 File Folder Games for Preschool through 4th Grade! Math, Reading & Science! Download Instantly!


FREE, 100% customizable worksheets with images; bingo, dominoes, tracing worksheets, game board makers, word searches, multiple choice worksheet generators, spelling test wizard, certificates, awards, crosswords, and math worksheets.


Early Childhood Hands-On Learning Activities As Well As Daily Art Projects and Learning Sheets For Children Ages 2-Kindergarten. A Great Resource For Teachers ... Child Care Providers and Parents!!


Free and low-cost preschool activities, curriculum and printables for teachers, daycares, and parents. HUNDREDS of FREE activity pages and FREE quality clipart.


Lesson plan themes, monthly calendars, and educational activities appropriate for use with young learners.

Colour Spin Game

What You Need:

Pencil

Lid for tracing

Large white paper plate

Markers (4 colours)

Clothespin (2)

Child safety scissors

Black construction paper scrap

Paper fastener (adult supervision here!)


What You Do:

1. Trace the lid to make a circle in the centre of the paper plate. Draw two lines, dividing the circle in four pieces like a pie. Colour each section a different colour.
   
   
2. Draw a ring around the rim of the plate. Divide the ring into 1" squares- about the size of half of your pointer finger. Colour the squares the four different colours.
   
   
3. Write the words Start and Finish on two side-by-side squares. Write the players' names on the clothespins.
   
   
4. Cut an arrow shape from the black construction paper. Ask a grown up to attach the arrow with the fastener, to the centre of the plate.
   
   
5. To play, take turns spinning the arrow. Clip the clothespin to the colour square the arrow points to that's closest to the Start. Continue moving around the plate until one player reaches the Finish.
   

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Pinwheel Colour Spin

What You Need:

Child safety scissors

White construction paper

Red and blue markers

Plastic drinking straw

Hole punch

Paper fastener (adult supervision here)


What You Do:

1. Cut out a circle from white construction paper. Divide the circle into 12 wedges, like a pie. Colour one wedge blue, the next red, the next one blue, and so on (alternating the two colours).
   
   
2. Ask a grown up to poke a hole in the centre of the circle. Pinch the top of the straw flat. Punch a hole through the centre of the flattened part of the straw.
   
   
3. Ask a grown up to attach the coloured circle loosely to the straw with a paper fastener. Spin the circle. What new colours do you see?

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Coloured Puzzle Shapes

What You Need:

Child safety scissors

Red, blue, and yellow construction paper

Pencil

Cereal box cardboard

Tape


What You Do:

1. Cut a red square, a blue circle, and a yellow triangle from construction paper. Trace the shapes onto the cardboard.
   
   
2. Ask a grown up to help cut out the shapes without cutting through the edges of the cardboard.
   
   
3. Turn the cardboard over the tape red construction paper to cover the square, blue paper to cover the circle, and yellow paper to cover the triangle.
   
   
4. Match the cutout shapes and colours to the shapes and colours on the cardboard.
   

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Rainbow Mobile

What You Need:

Child safety scissors

Large paper plate

Watercolour paints

Paintbrush & water containers

Hole punch

Plastic drinking straw

Thin yarn, 2 strands

White craft glue

Cotton balls


What You Do:

1. Cut away the rim of the paper plate. Cut the centre of the plate in half.
   
   
2. Use watercolours to paint a rainbow on both sides of one half. Punch a hole in the top of the rainbow.
   
   
3. Cut the straw in half. Thread the yarn through the hole in the rainbow, and tie it to the centre of the straw.
   
   
4. Cut out two clouds from the other half of the paper plate. Punch a hole in the top of each cloud. Glue cotton balls onto both sides of each cloud.
   
   
5. Thread the other piece of yarn through the straw with grown-up help, so that the ends hang down. Tie a cloud to each yarn end. Tie yarn around the middle of the straw to hang the mobile.
   

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Colour Sort

What You Need:

White business-sized envelopes (2)

Child safety scissors

Construction paper

Glue stick

Markers (4 assorted colours)

Old magazines and catalogues


What You Do:

1. Seal the envelopes. Cut each one in half across the short side. Glue each half with its open end up onto construction paper to make a pocket.
   
   
2. Colour the front of each envelope a different colour.
   
   
3. Cut out pictures from old magazines and catalogues. Match the colour of the pictures to the colour on the pocket, and slip the pictures inside.
   

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Popsicle Stick Match

What You Need:

White paper

Popsicle sticks, 10

Pencil

Red, yellow, blue, and green markers


What You Do:

1. Starting at one end of the paper, trace one Popsicle stick. Leave a space. Now trace two Popsicle sticks next to each other. Next, trace three sticks and then four next to each other.
   
   
2. Colour the real Popsicle sticks: one yellow, two red, three green, and four blue.
   
   
3. Colour in the Popsicle stick tracings: one yellow, two red, three green, and four blue.
   
   
4. Match up the stics to the colour strips.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Colourful Circles

What You Need:

White tempera paint

Styrofoam tray

Round objects (paper cup, tube, bottle cap spool, button, etc)

Construction paper (of various colours)

Child safety scissors

Glue stick


What You Do:

1. Pour a thin later of paint into the tray. Dip a round object into the paint; press onto the construction paper.
   
   
2. Choose another colour of construction paper and another object, and make more prints. Continue, choosing new paper colours and different objects, until you've made prints of all the objects. Let dry.
   
   
3. Cut shapes out of the printed papers. Glue the shapes onto a background sheet of construction paper.
   
   
4. Print some small painted circles on the background if you like.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Choo-choo Train

What You Need:

Index cards (4" by 6")

Transparent tape

Hole punch

Child safety scissors

Paper fasteners (adult supervision here!)

Cardboard egg carton

Markers


What You Do:

1. Firstly, to make the cars....
   
   • Hold two index cards the long way; fold each one into thirds.
   • Place one card upside down inside the second card; tape to hold together.
   • Make more train cars by folding and taping additional index cards. Punch a hole in the ends of each car.
     
     
2. Next, to make the couplings
   
   • Cut out 1" by 3" rectangles from another index card.
   • Punch a hole in the ends of each strip.
   • Attach couplings between the train cars with paper fasteners.
     
     
3. Lastly, to make the engine.
   
   • Cut out one section of the egg carton. Holding the index card vertically, tent it over the egg section; tape to hold.
   • Tape the engine car to the first train car.
     
     
4. Use markers to decorate the train and draw on wheels.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Circus Train

What You Need:

Cardboard milk carton

Masking tape

Pencil

Construction paper, assorted colours

Child safety scissors

White craft glue

Animal pictures/stickers

Toothpicks

Markers


What You Do:

1. Flatten the spout end of the carton. Tape to hold.
   
   
2. Trace the side of the carton four times onto construction paper. Cut out and glue to the carton.
   
   
3. Glue or stick animals pictures onto the covered carton. Glue toothpicks over the pictures to make cage bars. Let dry.
   
   
4. Decorate the circus car with markers.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Racing Cars

What You Need:

Child safety scissors

Styrofoam egg carton

Permanent black marker

Small stickers/coloured tape

White paper plates (1 large, and 1 small)

Black tempera paint

Paintbrush

Toothpicks

Tape

Paper fasteners (Adult supervision here!)


What You Do:

1. To make race cars, cut out six sections from the egg carton, trimming each around the sides. Draw on windows and doors. Put a different sticker, strip of tape, or number on top of each car.
   
   
2. Cut away the rim from the small paper plate. Paint the top of the plate black, leaving the outer edge white. Turn the large paper plate upside down and paint the bottom black, leaving an edge of the rim white. Let it dry.
   
   
3. Poke a toothpick through the sides of each car. Tape the other end of the toothpick under a small plate.
   
   
4. Ask a grown-up to poke a hole in the centre of both plates. Attach the plates with a paper fastener. Turn the top plate to start the race.

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com

Red light, Green light, Yellow light too!

What You Need:

Pencil

Lids from deli containers (3 of it)

Red, yellow, green, and black construction paper

Child safety scissors

Tacky glue

Paper-towel tube


What You Do:

1. Trace a deli lid onto the green, yellow, and red construction paper. Trace the lid twice on the black paper.
   
   
2. Cut out the paper circles so they fit snugly inside the lids.
   
   
3. Glue the lids onto the cardboard tube: the red lid on top, the yellow lid in the middle, and the green lid on the bottom. To make each colour turn "on", place black circles onto the other two colours, so only one colour shows.
   

We're found at http://little-red-bus.com