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Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! I’d like to go on record saying that paint dots might be one of the most underrated art supply for kids ever.  It’s true! I think the problem is that we all just assume they are for dot making and that’s it.  Check out this paint dot mural.  It’s made with paint dots and paint dots only and it’s beautiful.  It’s actually a collaborative mural my girls and I did equally.  My 2 and half year old may have done the most actually.  She was in the zone with this one.

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! The mural is actually really big.  We worked on it the three of us for about an hour.  I’ve found that when I don’t have my camera on me and I am 100% engaged in the activity with my kids, they stay with it so much longer.  That seems kind of obvious now that I’m writing it.  Of course they are into the art if I’m doing it with them, wholeheartedly, with no distractions.  It reminds of the quote “Kid’s spell love…T-I-M-E,” by John Crudele.  I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.  I really need to put my phone/computer down and be with my kids more.  Anyway, back to my fleeting successful hour and half of parenting where I was totally engaged.

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! *This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!

Materials

You only need two things for this activity.

Paint Dots

paper (we used about 6 ft of white butcher paper you can get at most craft stores or click that link to order a big roll online.  You can also use it to cover tables for art projects and all sorts of projects so to me it’s a good investment that will last and last.)

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! Now the trick to using paint dots so they are actually awesome is to forget they have anything to do with dots.  Instead use them as big fat paint brushes that need a little squeeze to get going.  Yup, you have to make the paint really come out the sponge top so that you can rub it back and forth, side to side, up and down on the paper.  You can squeeze them as much as you want and go ahead and draw your pictures.  My little one loves them because she can see great color on the paper by rubbing hard back and forth and pushing down on the paper.  They offer a great sensory experience for kids.  So that’s the secret really.  There’s not much beyond that but sometimes it takes an adult to demonstrate how to use them because kids just tend to dot with them.  And don’t get me wrong, dots can be fun too and if you look closely you will see dots on our mural.  I just think it’s worth pointing out that Paint Dots can do a lot more than dots.

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! Now, back to the reason you don’t see my kids actually painting the mural. Remember when I was mother of the year and not on my phone and not on the computer and was just activitely engaged in this mural?  Yeah, that’s why I have no action shots.  BUT, we loved our mural so much that my kids agreed to do a little photo shoot in from t of it!  Now that makes a a blogging mama happy.

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! Don’t ask why my two year old is posing naked.  Well, you can ask.  Basically, I have to practically beg her to put clothes on.  This girl loves to be naked.  Anyone else have a kid like that?  She takes one step threw the door after school and bam, she’s up to her old tricks.

Anyway, I also want to mention that Paint Dots are way less messy than using straight up paint.  You can take them on the go and they work great on any paper.  Can you tell I’m a big fan?

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids. They can do way more than make dots!If you don’t have paint dots on your art cart, maybe this post convinced you.  They come in lots of great colors too.  They have shimmer ones, tropical colors and your more traditional color set.  I haven’t tried the shimmer ones yet but plan to.  They look great.

Thanks for reading along everyone.  Hope this helps for your next play date or just a family afternoon. xo Meri

Paint dots are the most underrated art supply for young kids.  They can do way more than make dots! incredible resource for creating totally doable art spaces for kids!       The beginner's art supply list for "Non Crafty Moms"art secrets every parent should know      Find more than 50 awesome art projects for 3 to 5 year olds