Use basic materials to introduce children two years of age or younger to art. Chalk and black paper or a blackboard, or even a sidewalk or driveway are good for younger children. Playground chalk is thicker and can more easily withstand handling by a child of this age. Similarly, finger paints or fat crayons and paper are good standard art materials for children aged two or younger. Teachers may wish to tape paper to a table top for ease of use, or select thicker paper, such as poster board, construction paper, thin cardboard or even a cereal box.
Slightly older children are capable of understanding and participating in somewhat more complex projects. Ask a home decorating outlet if they have old wallpaper sample books to donate for a toddler's art class. Often, as styles change, such places will have leftover samples and be happy to part with them. On a sheet of paper, draw a face. Use the wallpaper samples to cut out different shapes to represent "hats." Glue the samples onto the picture, encouraging the children to try different combinations.
Ask toddlers to look through magazines to locate pictures of their favorite food items. Help the children to cut out the pictures, using child safety scissors. Give each child a paper plate and encourage him to arrange his pictures on the plate to represent a meal. Help each child to glue the pictures to the plates to make a picnic lunch.
Make a mural of toddlers' footprints. Do this by taping rolled gift wrap to a washable floor surface, blank side up. Put some washable paint into a container big enough for each child's foot. Have each child step into the container of paint one foot at a time and then walk the length of the paper to create a footprint trail, which can be hung as a mural when the paint is dry.