Expressive Arts and Design

Expressive Arts and Design is the strand about making, imagining and pretending. Scribbling, sticking, banging a rhythm on a pan, feeding a soft toy an invisible dinner. It is where a toddler starts to represent one thing with another, which is the root of every drawing and story they will ever make. The activities here are chosen for that. They are low on materials and high on mess-free making, and none of them need the result to look like anything.

180 activities

Bat Wing Flap illustration Bat Wing Flap from 12 months · 5-10 min Bottle Shaker Band illustration Bottle Shaker Band from 12 months · 30-45 min Car Paint Tracks illustration Car Paint Tracks from 12 months · 10-15 min Draw in the Oats illustration Draw in the Oats from 12 months · 10-15 min Finger Paint Fruit illustration Finger Paint Fruit from 12 months · 10-15 min Foil Tray Drum Band illustration Foil Tray Drum Band from 12 months · 10-15 min Handprint Bats illustration Handprint Bats from 12 months · 10-15 min Handprint Black Cat illustration Handprint Black Cat from 12 months · 10-15 min Scribble Box illustration Scribble Box from 12 months · 20-30 min Squish Bag Painting illustration Squish Bag Painting from 12 months · 5-10 min Stir the Pan illustration Stir the Pan from 12 months · 5-10 min The Two-Minute Song illustration The Two-Minute Song from 12 months · 5 min Wet Hand Prints illustration Wet Hand Prints from 12 months · 10-15 min Where Is Everyone? illustration Where Is Everyone? from 12 months · 5 min Bowl Drum Concert illustration Bowl Drum Concert from 13 months · 30-45 min Chunky Crayon Scribble illustration Chunky Crayon Scribble from 13 months · 5-10 min Flour Spoon Trace illustration Flour Spoon Trace from 13 months · 5-10 min Monster Walk illustration Monster Walk from 13 months · 20-35 min Apple Picking Tree illustration Apple Picking Tree from 14 months · 10-15 min Bell Bracelet Shake illustration Bell Bracelet Shake from 14 months · 5-10 min Ghost Footprints illustration Ghost Footprints from 14 months · 10-20 min Handprint Witch illustration Handprint Witch from 14 months · 10-15 min Leaf Window illustration Leaf Window from 14 months · 10-15 min Paper Bag Ghost illustration Paper Bag Ghost from 14 months · 10-15 min Pine Cone Paint Roll illustration Pine Cone Paint Roll from 14 months · 10-15 min Pots And Pans Band illustration Pots And Pans Band from 14 months · 25-40 min Shadow Puppet Wall Watch illustration Shadow Puppet Wall Watch from 14 months · 20-30 min Sound Hunt Walk illustration Sound Hunt Walk from 14 months · 20-35 min Spoon Drum Beat illustration Spoon Drum Beat from 14 months · 5-10 min The Hello Song illustration The Hello Song from 14 months · 5 min Yoghurt Finger Paint illustration Yoghurt Finger Paint from 14 months · 20-35 min Scarf Sway Dance illustration Scarf Sway Dance from 15 months · 20-35 min Shaker Bottle Shake illustration Shaker Bottle Shake from 15 months · 5-10 min Sticky Tape Line illustration Sticky Tape Line from 15 months · 5-10 min Animal Walk Parade illustration Animal Walk Parade from 16 months · 20-35 min Puppet Story Den illustration Puppet Story Den from 16 months · 25-45 min Ring Ring, Hello illustration Ring Ring, Hello from 16 months · 5-10 min Singing Scarf Wave illustration Singing Scarf Wave from 16 months · 5-10 min Soft Toy Tuck In illustration Soft Toy Tuck In from 16 months · 5-10 min Sponge Paint Dots illustration Sponge Paint Dots from 16 months · 25-40 min Twenty Seconds of Soap illustration Twenty Seconds of Soap from 16 months · 5 min Broom Sweep March illustration Broom Sweep March from 18 months · 5-10 min Car Wash Scoot illustration Car Wash Scoot from 18 months · 5-10 min Cup Print Circles illustration Cup Print Circles from 18 months · 30-45 min Envelope Stuff Mail illustration Envelope Stuff Mail from 18 months · 10-15 min Farm Song With Toys illustration Farm Song With Toys from 18 months · 5-10 min One Colour Painting illustration One Colour Painting from 18 months · 30-45 min Pumpkin Face Stickers illustration Pumpkin Face Stickers from 18 months · 10-15 min Sock Puppet Hush illustration Sock Puppet Hush from 18 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Bedtime Story illustration Teddy's Bedtime Story from 18 months · 5 min Teddy's Dinner illustration Teddy's Dinner from 18 months · 5-10 min Broomstick Ride illustration Broomstick Ride from 20 months · 5-10 min Scribble Monsters illustration Scribble Monsters from 20 months · 10-15 min Shaker Band Practice illustration Shaker Band Practice from 20 months · 30-45 min Teddy Jumps illustration Teddy Jumps from 20 months · 10-15 min Incy Wincy Fingers illustration Incy Wincy Fingers from 22 months · 5 min Paper on the Wall illustration Paper on the Wall from 22 months · 5-10 min Pavement Chalk illustration Pavement Chalk from 22 months · 10-15 min Row Your Boat illustration Row Your Boat from 22 months · 5 min Snapped Crayons illustration Snapped Crayons from 22 months · 5-10 min A Card to Post illustration A Card to Post from 24 months · 30-45 min All Aboard the Chair Bus illustration All Aboard the Chair Bus from 24 months · 30-40 min Bat Cave Den illustration Bat Cave Den from 24 months · 20-30 min Bear Hunt Round the House illustration Bear Hunt Round the House from 24 months · 30-40 min Box House Build illustration Box House Build from 24 months · 30-45 min Bus Song Gaps illustration Bus Song Gaps from 24 months · 5 min Cardboard Drum Beat illustration Cardboard Drum Beat from 24 months · 30-45 min Coffee Filter Bats illustration Coffee Filter Bats from 24 months · 15-20 min Doctor Bear Checkup illustration Doctor Bear Checkup from 24 months · 20-35 min Dress-Up Box illustration Dress-Up Box from 24 months · 20-40 min Drum Roll, Then Hush illustration Drum Roll, Then Hush from 24 months · 5 min First Scribble Page illustration First Scribble Page from 24 months · 20-35 min Fork Print Hedgehogs illustration Fork Print Hedgehogs from 24 months · 10-15 min Hallway Tape Roads illustration Hallway Tape Roads from 24 months · 20-30 min Last Word Lullaby illustration Last Word Lullaby from 24 months · 5 min Leaf Printing illustration Leaf Printing from 24 months · 15-20 min Leafy Lion Mane illustration Leafy Lion Mane from 24 months · 15-20 min Loud And Quiet Dance illustration Loud And Quiet Dance from 24 months · 30-45 min Monster Feet Stomp illustration Monster Feet Stomp from 24 months · 10-15 min Mummy Pumpkin illustration Mummy Pumpkin from 24 months · 15-20 min Nature Paintbrushes illustration Nature Paintbrushes from 24 months · 20-30 min Pumpkin Stamp Painting illustration Pumpkin Stamp Painting from 24 months · 15-20 min Put Toys To Bed illustration Put Toys To Bed from 24 months · 5-10 min Shaker Bottle Symphony illustration Shaker Bottle Symphony from 24 months · 20-35 min Sponge Ghosts illustration Sponge Ghosts from 24 months · 15-20 min Spooky Sounds Band illustration Spooky Sounds Band from 24 months · 10-20 min Teddy Tea Party illustration Teddy Tea Party from 24 months · 20-40 min Trace A Plate illustration Trace A Plate from 24 months · 5-10 min Two Little Birds illustration Two Little Birds from 24 months · 5 min Who Lives Here? illustration Who Lives Here? from 24 months · 30-45 min Wind The Bobbin Up illustration Wind The Bobbin Up from 24 months · 5 min Your Turn Round The Garden illustration Your Turn Round The Garden from 24 months · 5 min Card Spiders illustration Card Spiders from 26 months · 20-30 min Colour the Big Circle illustration Colour the Big Circle from 26 months · 5-10 min Flour Finger Drawing illustration Flour Finger Drawing from 26 months · 20-30 min Paper Plate Pumpkin illustration Paper Plate Pumpkin from 26 months · 15-20 min Round and Round illustration Round and Round from 26 months · 5 min Spoon Tap Tune illustration Spoon Tap Tune from 26 months · 5-10 min Sticker Peel And Stick illustration Sticker Peel And Stick from 26 months · 5-10 min Teddy's Buttons illustration Teddy's Buttons from 26 months · 5-10 min Turn The Dial illustration Turn The Dial from 26 months · 5 min Dough Creature illustration Dough Creature from 28 months · 10-15 min Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake illustration Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake from 28 months · 25-40 min Pumpkin Faces and Feelings illustration Pumpkin Faces and Feelings from 28 months · 10-15 min Washing Dolly's Hands illustration Washing Dolly's Hands from 28 months · 10-15 min Bark Rubbing illustration Bark Rubbing from 30 months · 20-30 min Card Flag Bunting illustration Card Flag Bunting from 30 months · 10-15 min Cloud Shapes illustration Cloud Shapes from 30 months · 10-15 min Copy My Clap illustration Copy My Clap from 30 months · 5 min Dressing-Up Shirt illustration Dressing-Up Shirt from 30 months · 10-15 min Family Band illustration Family Band from 30 months · 20-30 min Fast and Slow March illustration Fast and Slow March from 30 months · 5-10 min First Snips illustration First Snips from 30 months · 10-15 min Fridge Door Gallery illustration Fridge Door Gallery from 30 months · 10-15 min Hum and Guess illustration Hum and Guess from 30 months · 5-10 min Junk Model Maker illustration Junk Model Maker from 30 months · 30-45 min Mix a New Colour illustration Mix a New Colour from 30 months · 30-40 min Slow-Motion Snails illustration Slow-Motion Snails from 30 months · 5-10 min Teddy Tea Party Pour illustration Teddy Tea Party Pour from 30 months · 10-15 min Write What They Say illustration Write What They Say from 30 months · 10-15 min Musical Statues illustration Musical Statues from 34 months · 10-15 min Autumn Leaf Collage illustration Autumn Leaf Collage from 36 months · 30-40 min Big Brush Colour Mix illustration Big Brush Colour Mix from 36 months · 10-15 min Billy Goats Gruff Bridge illustration Billy Goats Gruff Bridge from 36 months · 30-40 min Block Castle illustration Block Castle from 36 months · 30-40 min Bubble Beard Faces illustration Bubble Beard Faces from 36 months · 10-15 min Bug Hotel illustration Bug Hotel from 36 months · 30-40 min Café Order Pad illustration Café Order Pad from 36 months · 30-40 min Cardboard Box Car illustration Cardboard Box Car from 36 months · 30-45 min Cress Head Pots illustration Cress Head Pots from 36 months · 30-40 min Den for Two illustration Den for Two from 36 months · 30-45 min Family Bunting illustration Family Bunting from 36 months · 10-15 min Hair Salon illustration Hair Salon from 36 months · 30-40 min Hedgehog Winter Box illustration Hedgehog Winter Box from 36 months · 30-40 min Junk Model Rocket illustration Junk Model Rocket from 36 months · 30-45 min Lion Mane Snips illustration Lion Mane Snips from 36 months · 10-15 min Marching Band Parade illustration Marching Band Parade from 36 months · 30-40 min Monster Dice Drawing illustration Monster Dice Drawing from 36 months · 10-15 min Mud Pie Recipes illustration Mud Pie Recipes from 36 months · 30-45 min Musical Cushions illustration Musical Cushions from 36 months · 10-15 min Nursery Rhyme Theatre illustration Nursery Rhyme Theatre from 36 months · 30-40 min Paper Hat Folding illustration Paper Hat Folding from 36 months · 10-15 min Paper Snowflakes illustration Paper Snowflakes from 36 months · 10-15 min Parcel Post Office illustration Parcel Post Office from 36 months · 30-40 min Pebble Face Family illustration Pebble Face Family from 36 months · 15-20 min Petal Perfume illustration Petal Perfume from 36 months · 30-40 min Play Dough Colour Squish illustration Play Dough Colour Squish from 36 months · 10-15 min Rain Stick Music illustration Rain Stick Music from 36 months · 30-40 min Rainbow Treasure Hunt illustration Rainbow Treasure Hunt from 36 months · 30-40 min Rainstorm Body Band illustration Rainstorm Body Band from 36 months · 5-10 min Rocket Countdown Jumps illustration Rocket Countdown Jumps from 36 months · 5-10 min Scarf Streamer Dance illustration Scarf Streamer Dance from 36 months · 10-15 min Skeleton Shake illustration Skeleton Shake from 36 months · 5-10 min Slow Motion Animals illustration Slow Motion Animals from 36 months · 5-10 min Snow Dough World illustration Snow Dough World from 36 months · 30-40 min Sound Effects Story illustration Sound Effects Story from 36 months · 30-40 min Spray Bottle Painting illustration Spray Bottle Painting from 36 months · 15-20 min Story Spoons illustration Story Spoons from 36 months · 10-15 min Three Bears' House illustration Three Bears' House from 36 months · 30-40 min Tissue Paper Window illustration Tissue Paper Window from 36 months · 10-15 min Torn Paper Mosaic illustration Torn Paper Mosaic from 36 months · 15-20 min Toy Car Road Map illustration Toy Car Road Map from 36 months · 15-20 min Toy Vet's Surgery illustration Toy Vet's Surgery from 36 months · 30-40 min Trick-or-Treat Doors illustration Trick-or-Treat Doors from 36 months · 30-40 min Window View Drawing illustration Window View Drawing from 36 months · 10-15 min Cloud Story Watch illustration Cloud Story Watch from 38 months · 10-15 min Feelings Faces illustration Feelings Faces from 38 months · 10-15 min Junk Mail Name Collage illustration Junk Mail Name Collage from 38 months · 10-15 min Our Art Gallery illustration Our Art Gallery from 38 months · 30-40 min Paper Plate Monster Mask illustration Paper Plate Monster Mask from 38 months · 15-20 min Paper Shape Pictures illustration Paper Shape Pictures from 38 months · 10-15 min Pumpkin Shape Faces illustration Pumpkin Shape Faces from 38 months · 10-15 min Silly Song Swaps illustration Silly Song Swaps from 38 months · 5-10 min Sock Puppet Show illustration Sock Puppet Show from 38 months · 15-20 min Toy Town Small World illustration Toy Town Small World from 38 months · 15-20 min Big Box, Little Box Drums illustration Big Box, Little Box Drums from 40 months · 10-15 min Broomstick Gallop illustration Broomstick Gallop from 40 months · 5-10 min Clap Clap Stamp illustration Clap Clap Stamp from 40 months · 5-10 min Clap Your Name illustration Clap Your Name from 40 months · 5-10 min Folded Story Book illustration Folded Story Book from 40 months · 30-40 min

Other EYFS areas

Communication and Language activities for toddlers · Physical Development activities for toddlers · Personal, Social and Emotional Development activities for toddlers · Literacy activities for toddlers · Mathematics activities for toddlers · Understanding the World activities for toddlers · All activities