Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Art · The activity desk
Painted Stone Story
Paint a large stone and invent a story about the picture on it.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A large smooth clean stone, washable paint, brush, tray and paper
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Choose a smooth stone too large to swallow, wash it and let it dry. Set it on a tray.
Adult's role: Check the stone for sharp edges, supervise painting and keep it on the table.
Let's make it happen
- Paint a simple shape such as a leaf, cloud or sun on the stone.
- Add a few lines or dots around your shape.
- Tell a short story about your picture and draw another part of the story on paper.
Make it simpler: Paint one large spot and imagine what it could be.
Clean up: Wash brushes and hands, wipe the tray and let the stone dry indoors.
Use a stone too large to swallow. Paint is not food; keep the stone and paint away from mouths.