Activity Ideas - Butterfly Painting

This activity is great for fine motor skills and cognitive skills and introduces the idea of symmetry.

Suitable for children of all ages - some younger children will need assistance in some of the steps, older children can try some of the more advanced ideas below.

You will need: 

• Paper
• Paint
• 4 plastic spoons

Method:

1. Fold paper in half to make a fold down the middle.
2. Open the paper out flat.  
3. Dip plastic spoon into first paint colour choice.
4. Apply spoon to one half of the paper (dabbing, dripping or dribbling).
5. Repeat 3 and 4 with other paint colours.
6. Fold the paper along the centre fold again and press down firmly so that the paint spreads onto the other side. If you're paint is thick it will spread outwards as well.
7. Open the paper to reveal the picture.
 

Get Creative:

Although butterflies are the most common theme, there is no reason you can't try lots of other ideas.  Paint

• half a face
• shapes - how do you draw half a square, half a circle, half a triangle, half a hexagon.
• letters and numbers - some of them anyway

Talk:

• how symmetrical are our faces really?
• which letters and numbers are symmetrical?
• can you think of some words that are symmetrical?

More Ideas

• 0to5.com.au Ideas for Activities
• 0to5.com.au Templates for young children's colouring and art projects

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