Rainbow Cotton Swab Painting

Creating art is a wonderful way for young children to explore their creativity and develop fine motor skills. In our in-home childcare setting, we love incorporating colorful and engaging activities that spark joy and encourage learning.

One of our favorite crafts is Rainbow Cotton Swab Painting.

While created more for preschool age children in mind, it is a fun project that not only allows children to paint which, let’s face it, is one of the favorites of young children, but it also encourages find motor skills and a great conversation about colors.

Related Article: Paper Plate Rainbow For Toddlers

Prepping Your Space

Like all our projects with paint, we are first going to want to cover our workspace. I love placing a plastic tablecloth down first covered by large sheets of paper or flattened cardboard boxes.

All of these items are able to be reused, or if the project goes wild, throw it all out in the end.

• Cover your space. I recommend large pieces of flattened cardboard or kraft paper. Dollar store table cloths are great too, they wipe up easy or if the mess is a little extra, fold it up and throw it out.
• Cover your child. I love using an old t shirt cut up the sides for easy on and off over their heads, but whatever you have, smocks, bibs, aprons. Use it!!
• Get your clean up kit ready. I would have a washcloth ready for each child as well as some wet wipes for little spills and clean up during the project.
  • You know your kids best, while my group of preschoolers probably wouldn’t start painting their toes like my toddlers sometimes do…yours may. Have the proper clean up items ready!
• Completely set up the project. One area I have found to have success with messy art and groups of toddlers and preschoolers is to have everything set up before I call them to the table.
  • Preschoolers tend to be ready for the next step before you can blink so having everything available to them allows all children to go at the pace they want without your head spinning trying to run around getting the next thing ready.

What You Need

Materials:

• Paint
• Cotton swabs
• Painting sheets
• Small containers to hold paint

Grab this fun set of 9 cotton swab painting sheets here!!

What We Did

Before I told the kids to go for it, we talked about rainbows.

The colors:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Purple

We discussed the order and what that means.

We looked at pictures and they told me their favorite things about rainbows.

Then they began. I told them our goal is to fill in the little circles with our cotton swabs but the rest was up to them.

Related Article: Do A Dot Rainbow Craft

Ways To Learn

I find it very important to talk to the children during their art process.

To discuss the colors and shapes.

Comment on different techniques they are using.

• Talk about each color and have the children tell you what they are rather than you telling them
• Ask how many colors are in the rainbow on an image you show them
• Talk about the shape of the area they will be painting (circles)
• Discuss your painting rules during the process as well

Be mindful of kids who get very into their work. Don’t take them away from their thinking process to talk if that is not how they work best.

Remember little ones are listening, even if they’re not yet talking, they are listening and they are absorbing what you are saying!!

The End Results

This is a group of very skilled preschoolers I think.

While some rush as quick as they can, others tried to fill in the dots as fully as they could.

I was very impressed with their concentration.

I work with multi age groups as I am sure many of you do too.

Having children at different levels of learning allows for a variety of finished projects. This is okay!! Cater your projects to the littles in your care!!

While this project may be a little difficult for your toddler group, try out this paper plate rainbow craft or this do a dot rainbow craft!

Takeaway Tips

• Be sure you are completely set up before calling kids to the art station
• Don’t sweat it if you have one child done in 2 minutes and another done in 20.
• Try using small bowls that can be cleaned for future use to cut down on waste
• Decide before hand if you will have children share the paint or give each child their own
• Turn this project into a learning project while discussing all the colors of the rainbow!
• Have fun!! Art shouldn’t be stressful for you or your littles
• Embrace the mess!!