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Kids Art: 5 Ways With Body Outlines

5 Ways to Create on Body Outlines

Young children often love it when you trace around their body and here are five suggestions for getting the most out of this fun, creative experience (and these ideas aren’t just limited to little ones, the big ones will enjoy these too!)

Drawing: Because of the large surface area of body outlines, it is a good idea to think carefully about what type of drawing utensils will make drawing and colouring quick and easy (especially for young children). Felt tipped markers, crayons or oil pastels will take less time than pencils.  It can also be fun to add a paint wash over crayons or oil pastels for a colourful crayon resist effect.

kids art body outlines

Painting: Painting is probably the quickest way to decorate a body outline. Try tracing everyone in the family or your child in a range of different  body positions to make a family of ‘people’ to decorate your wall.

kids art body outlines

Fabric collage: Use up scraps of fabric by creating clothes on your body outline. We used diluted child-friendly PVA glue to keep ours in place. If you don’t have fabric scraps, try tissue paper or construction paper scraps instead.

kids art body outlines

Magazine collage: Bigger kids can use magazine pictures to create a collage effect on their body outline.

kids art body outlines

Go abstract: Of course, you don’t have to outline the entire body. Tracing smaller body parts means children have less area to fill which opens you to a greater range of creative techniques. Why not go retro with some brightly coloured colour blocking! Using oil pastels, Immy and I took one hand and arm each and I love the results.

You’ll find further inspiration for getting creative with kids in my newly released book, Time to Create, check it out…

Time_to_Create_by Christie Burnett

Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.

Filed Under: Art, Bigger Kids Play, Preschool Play Tagged With: art for kids, kids art, painting kids art ideas

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Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. prince n princess mum says

    November 1, 2011 at 6:31 PM

    Interesting! Thanks for sharing!~
  2. wordplayhouse® says

    November 2, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    For a time, we had rolls of giant body tracings decorated in various ways after reading a children's book where the class in the story makes them. So much fun was had making and decorating these tracing in our home, just as the child you have shown creating here. This really is a fun project for children you've shared with your readers.
  3. Lesley @ EARLY PLAY AUSTRALIA says

    November 2, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    This body art is such a lovely idea. So happy to have found your site
  4. mooraboolformothers says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    I love these ideas. great for kids of various ages!
  5. kelli-AdventurezInChildRearing says

    November 4, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    love the hands and arms- we do "virtual vacations" and this is a great way to study the henna art and tribal body paint without actually painting on the kiddos! (unless I find just the right totally non-toxic stuff- then they might actually prefer to paint themselves!)
    • Christie Burnett says

      November 17, 2011 at 7:39 PM

      I love the idea of creating a henna style/tribal body artwork on an outline.
  6. Jessica says

    November 5, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    I started a local Children's Art Group and this is one of the things i've had on my "to do" list for awhile now. This gives me some GREAT ideas to use when we do this! Thank you!!! http://www.playcreateexplore.com/p/childrens-art-group.html
    • Christie Burnett says

      November 17, 2011 at 7:40 PM

      I love the idea of your art group, Jessica, it sounds like so much fun!
  7. candice says

    January 19, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    love this! One of my little art students requested his body outline for our next class! cheers Candice
  8. Jackie @ happy hooligans says

    March 14, 2014 at 8:53 PM

    Yes, the hooligans LOVE it when I trace their hands or whole bodies onto paper! All of these ideas are terrific, Christie!
    • Christie Burnett says

      March 20, 2014 at 5:29 PM

      Thanks, Jackie :)
  9. Nirvana Watkins says

    March 15, 2014 at 4:29 AM

    At playgroup, we did a "what's inside?" drawing activity with body outlines. I followed this us at home by using the animated Human Body by Tinybop app with my son :)
    • Christie Burnett says

      March 20, 2014 at 5:29 PM

      Love this idea, Nirvana :)

Trackbacks

  1. Playful Picks: Good Stuff for Creating, Exploring, & Playing says:
    November 6, 2011 at 6:02 PM
    [...] Kids Art: 5 Ways With Body Outlines :: Childhood 101 [...]
  2. Family Fun with Body Outlines! | Dads for Life Toolbox says:
    October 12, 2014 at 5:16 PM
    […] https://childhood101.com/2011/11/kids-art-5-ways-with-body-outlines/ […]
  3. 30+ toddler activities from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds says:
    December 30, 2014 at 1:15 PM
    […] 101 shares 5 different art activities with a body […]
  4. Training Blog says:
    July 3, 2017 at 3:03 PM
    This Course Outlines The Five 5 [...] cings decorated in various ways after reading a children's book where the class [...]
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