Hellobee

I am by no means under the impression that this will be first time you’ve seen this type of art project (it’s even been featured here on Hellobee. It’s definitely a classic! However, I wanted to bring this one out and blow off the dust a little, and remind you about all of the educational benefits that can come from such a simple project! I’ve done tissue paper art many times with children at work, but this was the first time that I had done it with Mini Pbj and she loved it!

Tissue Paper Art Learnings

• fine motor skills
• color names and recognition
• matching
• pattern creation and recognition
• sorting

The main ingredient for this project is obviously tissue paper pieces! I just happened to be lucky enough to find a package of pre-cut tissue paper squares at a dollar store and I snatched them up! You can totally just snip (or rip) up your own though. If you have an older toddler or preschooler have them snip their own paper into pieces. Even more learning and fun!

The first project we did with our tissue paper squares was to simply glue them down onto another piece of paper. I modeled for her how to “make a glue spot” on the paper and then stick down the tissue. After my example she was good to go!

I let her use the glue stick all on her own, which she loved! Using a glue stick instead of a bottle of glue made it easier for her to have more control and independence in the project. Plus, it dries way faster. As she was working on her project, we talked about the different colors and which one she was going to choose next.

Picking up/sticking down the tissue paper and manipulating a glue stick are two really good ways to build fine motor skills. To work on pattern creation and recognition, lay down a simple pattern (red, blue, red, blue, etc.) and have them choose what color comes next. You can also just point out patterns or clusters of colors they have intentionally or unintentionally created.

The final product! *I use masking tape to hold her paper in place

The second way that we used our tissue paper squares was to stick them down onto clear contact paper and make sort of a sun-catcher or stained glass window. This one is my personal fave!

The contact paper provides another element of sensory exploration, and Mini Pbj found it utterly fascinating. She kept sticking her hands to it while she was waiting for me to bring her the tissues squares.

I just gave her all the colors in one bowl, but a good sorting exercise would be to have them separate the different colors out into individual piles.

After she was done putting all of her tissue paper on, she helped me to sandwich another piece of contact paper over the top.

When we hung this up on the sliding door in the kitchen she said, “Oohh Wow!” This one is my favorite because I love how pretty this looks when the sun shines through it. Something so simple, but mesmerizing no matter how many times I see it!

This is a super fun and easy art project that requires minimal materials but allows for plenty of creativity and learning. It’s perfect for a wide range of age groups because it can be modified and customized to fit each child and their capabilities. Who knew that so many important developmental concepts and skills could be built from such a simple art project! If you haven’t done this one in a while bust it back out!