Activities
Finger Painting & Art
Open-ended messy art where process matters more than product — because creativity thrives when we let go of the mess.
Open-ended messy art where process matters more than product — because creativity thrives when we let go of the mess.
Our art table is set up differently to most craft activities you might find — there's no template, no example on the wall, no "right way" to do it. We set out paints, brushes, rollers, sponges and large sheets of paper, then invite children to explore however they choose. Sometimes that means careful, deliberate mark-making. Sometimes it means using both hands, both elbows, and most of the table.
Finger painting is a particular favourite — there's something deeply satisfying about the direct connection between body and colour, the way paint spreads and mixes, the bright mark left behind. Children who seem reluctant to engage with other activities often come alive at the art table.
There's an important distinction in early childhood art between "process art" and "product art." Product art is template-based — colouring in a printed outline, making the same butterfly as everyone else. Process art is open-ended — the child decides what to make, how to make it, and when it's finished.
At Perfect Squiggle we value process art because the learning happens in the doing, not the finished product. A child who spends 20 minutes mixing red and blue into purple, then adding yellow, then watching what happens when they add white, is learning colour theory, cause-and-effect, and the joy of experimentation — far more than a child colouring inside predetermined lines.
Gripping brushes, squeezing paint, spreading with fingers and using rollers all strengthen the hand muscles needed for writing.
The texture, temperature and feel of paint is a rich sensory experience that helps children develop tactile tolerance and sensory processing.
Art gives children a non-verbal channel to express ideas, feelings and experiences — particularly valuable before language is fully developed.
Mixing colours and watching what happens is real science — children build an understanding of cause and effect through direct, tactile experimentation.
Children absorbed in art demonstrate sustained attention that transfers to other learning contexts. Uninterrupted art time builds the capacity to focus.
Making decisions about their own art — what colour, what mark, when to stop — builds a child's sense of agency and creative confidence.
We know messy art at home can feel overwhelming. One of the genuine gifts of coming to playgroup is having a space where mess is not just tolerated but actively celebrated — where floors are wipeable, smocks are provided, and no one minds if a little (or a lot) of paint ends up somewhere unexpected.
This matters because children who are repeatedly told "be careful, don't make a mess" during creative activities learn to be tentative and self-censoring — the opposite of the expansive, experimental spirit that creativity requires. At Perfect Squiggle, we do the mess so you don't always have to.
We use non-toxic, washable paints at all times — tested and safe for children from 12 months. We provide smocks to protect clothing, and always have wet wipes and a washing station available. Our art sessions include a variety of tools beyond fingers and hands: wide paintbrushes, sponges, rollers, natural print-making objects like leaves and flowers, and occasionally recycled materials like bubble wrap or cardboard tubes for texture printing.
Rather than asking "What is it?" (which implies there should be a recognisable subject), try open-ended responses: "Tell me about your painting" or "I love all those colours you used." This approach communicates that you value the process and their creative decisions, rather than judging the outcome against a realistic standard.
Explore more of what we offer at Perfect Squiggle.
Playgroup runs every Monday, 9:30am–11:30am at Bald Hills Uniting Church. $10 per family.
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