9 Tips: How do I paint with children?

Painting is a wonderful way for children to develop creativity. In addition, it is also an important basis for learning to write well later. Painting is not only a fun pastime, but it also helps children learn important skills, improve their spatial thinking and train their imagination.

When do children start painting and what are the options at what age?Did you know that you can also paint with tap water and light? Whether indoors or outdoors, with motifs or without - we give you a brief overview of suitable products for every age!

Tip: Are you curious about Paint by Numbers for children? Then view the entire child range. Only choose 24 colours for children at a young age. You can of course also choose 36 colours. We only recommend this if you want to increase the difficulty level.

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When do children learn to paint?

Who can remember their first stroke of a pen on a piece of paper? Hardly anyone, because the first attempts at painting begin at baby and toddler age. Most children start painting when they are 12 to 13 months old, but even babies often paint their first strokes on paper.

Painting is closely linked to fine motor skills and creativity

Children start to paint quite spontaneously and thus support themselves in their development and can paint on the canvaswhat they are thinking about at that moment.

As children get older, they eventually paint more varied and complex paintings. This strengthens analytical thinking and perception of the environment. The child must carefully observe and analyze how to put a shape, face or animal on paper. In addition to developing cognitive functions, painting also promotes motor skills, imagination and self-confidence in children.

Painting with children from 6 months: Dab and spread

Toddlers are particularly fascinated by sensory experiences. Whether with water or finger paint: In theDuring the so-called lubrication phase, they like to smear with both hands and look carefully at the traces they leave behind. Special hand paints for babies are particularly suitable for this age. Since toddlers are still very uncoordinated and like to paint everywhere, parents should keep a close eye on them at this age, and not just when they are painting.

Painting with children from 12 months: Toddlers can hold a pencil

Holding objects in the fist, letting go and putting them down - most children can do this around their first birthday. In this way, the little ones do their first important finger exercises and create the conditions for fine motor skills so that they can later pick up a pencil, draw with it and put it down again.

From draw to painting

In this drawing phase the children start with the preparatory exercises for "real" drawing. Hand-eye coordination in particular is trained. Large crayons that are easy for children to holdare perfect for this phase. By the way, children can only hold crayons with the fist grip from about the age of 2, or later with the so-called brush grip, which consists of the thumb, middle finger and index finger. From that moment on you can often see whether children prefer to use their left or right hand to grab.

Painting with children from 3 years old: You develop the skills of painting and drawing

After drawing, children begin to create their first paintings when they are about 3 years old. They like to paint a sun or one of the famous "cephalopods" - a kind of stick figure consisting mainly of around head and two arms and legs. From the age of four, more details and shapes appear in children's drawings. Children like to paint popular motifs such as houses, trees, cars or animals.

Painting by hand - Paint by Numbers for children

Depending on their personal development, children from the age of 3 already start to become enthusiastic about coloring motifs. Coloured pencils, watercolor paint and brushes, markers or chalk. With the " Paint by Numbers "children learn to use their brushes and different colour combinations particularly well.

The age-appropriate motifs contain different themes and offer good training for fine motor skills, creativity and analytical skills. Depending on age, the images to be coloured vary in difficulty. The numbered colour areas, with 24 colours, make it child's play to further paint the images. Thanks to the colour motifs and the wide lines, coloring is child's play, even for the little ones.

Painting with children from 5 years old

Painting, cutting outof shaping, pasting and writing: Different fine motor skills are required in kindergarten or school. Painting with coloured pencils, felt-tip pens or with brushes and paint pots are also part of the lessons as well as writing exercises with a fountain pen. This way the children paint in more detail.

Creativity in painting at school and at home

In the best scenario, children learn many creative techniques in primary school. 

The joy of being creative should continue at home. Parents can encourage the little ones in their painting development with a shared painterhours, templates for coloring or other painting wishes. But free painting is also important for children's creativity. To enable them to express themselves, there must always be sufficient painting and drawing materials available. In this way, parents provide the best conditions for their children to enjoy painting for a long time to come.

Would you like to delve deeper into the colorful world of "Paint by Numbers"? Discover more now in our Painting by Numbers Expert " Paint by Numbers " range.

Painting with children from 8 years old

Children already know that works of art are twice as fun when they are given as a gift. There are all kinds of painting products that make great gifts afterwards - or even decorate your own children's room! Our Paint by Numbers own photo is an ideal product to give as a gift.

Motivating children to paint

Whether it is free painting a painting, a beautiful house or a big yellow sun, children who have their first experience with drawing and painting take great pride in their work. With a photoThey come running with their hands in hand to show what wonderful things they have achieved, hoping for a nice reaction from the parents. “You did great!” - "Who (or what) did you paint there?" - "Shall we frame and hang that beautiful painting?" - there are endless ways parents can show their children that they have every right to be proud. Sincere praise is the best incentive for children to immediately draw again. A good thing, because everyone knows: practice makes perfect!