This fun and relaxing craft will bring a smile to everyone’s face! Preschoolers and school-age children can practice their fine motor skills and creativity, while enjoying the great outdoors. With endless options for creativity, children can give these as gifts or display them around your home.
Supplies: Rocks (ask an adult’s permission of what rocks you can use!), paint, paintbrush, sealer/Modge Podge (optional), sharpie marker
Activity Steps:
Step 1: Gather your materials and set up your workspace! You will be using paint and a permanent marker, so be sure to set out newspaper or a craft mat to prevent a mess.
Step 2: First, it is a good idea to wash the rocks before you start painting on them. Removing dirt or mud will make it easier for the paint to go on smoothly.
Step 3: This step is optional! Depending on what you want to paint on the rock, it might be helpful to paint the rock white first, to make the colors brighter.
Step 4: Next, it’s time to get creative! Begin painting on your rock. Experiment with different size brushes if you want to make details, like flowers, smiley faces, or dots.
Step 5: Once your rocks are fully dry (you can test this by gently touching the painted rock and see if your finger gets any paint on it), you can use a permanent marker (like a Sharpie) to write messages on your rock.
These can be inspirational to brighten someone's day, a joke to make someone laugh, or someone’s name.
Step 6: Optional: When you are completely finished, write your name and the year on the back/bottom of the rock so you can remember who made it and when you made it. What a fun memory to look back on!
Step 7: Paint or spray a sealer (like Modge Podge) on your painted rocks. This will help them withstand any weather and make sure the paint doesn’t chip off.
Step 8: Once your rocks are dry, it is time to display them! Wrap them up for a gift, sprinkle them throughout your garden, or display them on a shelf. Another fun idea is to use your rocks as random acts of kindness and leave them around your neighborhood sidewalks so strangers will see them! Have fun!