March Break is the perfect opportunity to slow down and make room for family creativity. Whether with toddlers, school-age children, or teenagers, each age offers a unique way to explore art and express themselves.
Explore artistic activities suited for each age, along with material tips to help create unforgettable moments together.
Creative ideas for every age
1. Toddlers (3 to 5 years) – First artistic steps
With toddlers, the magic happens when you let them freely explore colours and textures. Finger painting, modelling clay, and crayons become wonderful allies for stimulating their creativity while having fun.
Before starting, take time to protect the creative space by covering the table and floor, and planning for an apron. The goal is simple: allow the child to create freely, with spontaneous gestures, without constraints. Don't hesitate to think big. Large sheets of paper, cardboard canvases, or even budget-friendly canvases give children the impression of creating real works of art, just like the great artists.
Suggested Projects:
1. Finger painting on large format – To discover colour mixing, explore textures, and stimulate motor skills.
2. Modelling clay sculptures – Create simple shapes or small animals while developing dexterity and coordination.
3. Colourful collages – Cut or tear paper to compose colourful works, whilst getting comfortable with scissors and glue in a playful way.
Recommended materials: Aprons, Finger paint, modelling clay, crayons, paper, cardboard canvases, canvases.
2. Children (6 to 8 years) – Little creative explorers
At this age, children love to experiment whilst gaining independence. They enjoy following simple instructions but also inventing their own projects by combining techniques and materials. These activities allow them to develop their creativity, confidence, and observation skills.
Suggested Projects:
1. Painting on decorated rocks – Paint and decorate rocks with colourful or nature-inspired patterns to create small works to display or give as gifts.
2. Creating prints with sponges and stencils – Explore shapes and repetitions by creating patterns using cut sponges or stencils, on paper or fabric.
3. Handmade dream catchers – Make a dream catcher from simple materials and decorate it with wool, feathers, and beads for a decorative and playful creation.
Recommended materials: Watercolours, acrylic paint, assorted brushes, smooth rocks, sponges, stencils, paper plates, wool, feathers, beads, washable markers, sketchbooks.
3. Preteens (9 to 12 years) – Artists in the making
Preteens are ready to take on more complex challenges and develop their own style. This is the ideal age to explore more refined techniques and invest in creative projects they'll be proud of. Painting, drawing, or mixed media techniques—they now have the patience and dexterity needed to take their creations further.
Suggested Projects:
1. Fluid acrylic painting (pouring art) – A popular technique that involves pouring paint in a controlled or random manner to create spectacular abstract effects on canvas.
2. Fabric painting with stencils – Personalise canvas bags, cushions, or t-shirts using fabric paint and stencils to create lasting and unique patterns.
3. Personalised notebooks and creative journals – Decorate and personalise notebooks by combining watercolour, lettering, collage, and illustration to create a personal expression space.
Recommended materials: Acrylic paint sets for pouring art, fabric paint, assorted stencils, watercolours, gouache, coloured pencils, soft pastels, fine brushes, mixed media paper, blank notebooks, lettering markers.
4. Teenagers (13 to 17 years) – Creators inspired by trends
For teenagers, creation is often fuelled by trends seen on social media. These projects allow them to express their personality, explore current visual worlds, and create objects that reflect who they are. Cozy colouring, decorative embroidery, polymer clay, or miniature worlds are amongst the activities that generate the most enthusiasm.
Suggested Projects:
1. Creating charms or magnets with polymer clay – Sculpt small decorative shapes to personalise their space, bag, or accessories, whilst exploring styles inspired by kawaii and colourful worlds.
2. Cozy colouring or detailed illustrations – Take time to relax with complex patterns, whilst working on composition, colours, and attention to detail.
3. Mini amigurumi to crochet or assemble – Create small decorative figurines to hang on a bag or display in their room, to learn crochet or mini-project assembly.
Recommended materials: Cozy colouring books, embroidery threads and needles, polymer clay, tools for clay, crochet and amigurumi sets.
5. Family – Collaborative creations
Collaborative projects are a wonderful way to bring the whole family together around a shared creation. Imagine a large canvas set up on the table or on the floor, where everyone adds their personal touch. More than an artistic activity, it's a moment of togetherness where children and adults create together, without strict rules or expected results.
Everyone participates in their own way: toddlers explore textures with sponges, children add shapes and colours, teenagers draw patterns or structure the composition. The result is a collective work, rich in colours and shared memories.
Suggested Projects:
1. Large collaborative canvas mural – A giant canvas, or several canvases assembled together, where each family member leaves their artistic signature.
2. Family mixed-media project – Combine painting, collage, drawing, and even natural elements like leaves or branches to create a texture-rich work.
3. Seasonal decorations to make together – Create painted garlands, colourful mobiles, or decorative objects to personalise and display around the house.
Recommended materials: Acrylic paint, large canvases or mural paper, brushes of all sizes, sponges and rollers, watercolour and gouache paint, coloured papers, glue, assorted craft accessories.
Make room for creativity!
March Break is an ideal opportunity to create, experiment, and share. Whether it's introducing new techniques to younger ones, encouraging preteens in their practice, or letting teenagers draw inspiration from trends, each activity becomes a memorable creative moment.
Prepare your brushes, papers, arts and craft sets, and let the whole family's imagination run free.