Let's Get Crafty! Easy Rock Painting Ideas

Summer has officially arrived and our bucket lists are filled with endless adventures and ideas to keep the kiddos happy, healthy, thriving and busy. If you haven’t yet added some nature art to your list, you’ll want to do it now and then hit the craft store because these easy rock painting ideas will have the whole family crafting and smiling for hours on end. Luckily, Today on Rookie Moms, our nature loving mama, Sarah Kurliand shares with us some easy ways to get the whole family outside collecting rocks and doing some family art. If painting stresses you out, check out our mess-free painting tips.

Let’s Get Crafty! Easy Rock Painting Ideas

WE’RE GOING ON A ROCK HUNT

The first thing you’ll want to do in order to participate in these easy rock painting ideas is to go out and find the perfect rocks for your art project. This in itself can be a super fun activity that engages family members of all ages and also is an excuse to get everyone outside in the fresh summer air. Give everyone a basket and head to your nearest nature trail on a hunt for rocks that will later become your canvasses. If you don’t have a trail nearby, you can channel your inner Easter Bunny, purchase some rocks online and scatter them around your house or yard for the hunt.

Once everyone has collected their favorite rocks, you can wash them off together making sure they’re clean, smooth, dry and ready to be painted.

WHAT COULD YOU PAINT?

Here are some of our favorite easy rock painting ideas for you and your family. Depending on your kid’s ages and motor skills, results will vary just like when we attempt Pinterest projects!

Garden Rocks

Paint ladybugs, beetles, ants, flowers, ferns and trees to place in your garden or give as gifts to neighbors and friends.

Love Rocks

Paint hearts, sunshines, and feel good words and messages for people to find around your house, yard and neighborhood. TIP: these also make great Valentine’s Day gifts for later in the year.

Sensory Rocks

Using puffy paint, paint dots, swirls and other designs that feel good for tiny fingers to play with and feel. Mamas who have kiddos who chew their clothing or other things, this can act as a great alternative.

Worry Stones

Paint simple words of affirmation or smooth designs for kids to keep in their pockets and feel when they need them the most (think: difficult school or camp days, days when something big might be happening and strong feelings are coming up)

Story Rocks

Paint animals and other characters, as well as scenes that you can later use to help tell a story or teach a lesson with. Keep them all in a basket together for easy access when it’s time for the story.

Matching Game

Paint shapes, colors, trucks or animals in twos and use as a match finding game.

Math Rocks

Paint numbers and math signs (+-=X/) depending on the age of your kiddos and use the rocks as manipulates to show the math problem working right before their eyes.

Play Food Rocks

Paint fruits, veggies and other yummy foods to use as play food in their little kitchens or outside mud kitchens!

Feelings Rocks

Paint different faces that show emotions (happy, sad, angry, worried, scared) that can help your child begin to recognize other people’s and their own emotions. Bring these out when your kiddo needs some help explaining their feelings.

Letters of the Alphabet

Paint upper and lower case letters for matching, tracing with tiny fingers and good old practice. An extension idea for older kids would be to paint cursive letters.

Numbers

Paint numbers to practice and also trace with tiny fingers. An extension idea for older kids would be to paint roman numerals.

Weather

Paint the sun, clouds, rain, snow, cactus, etc. Make this part of your morning routine ”“ what is it like outside today?

Days of the Week

Similarly to the weather rocks, use the days of the week rocks as part of your morning routine to talk about your plans for the day and begin recognizing and even sounding out letters and words that we use in our everyday life.

Free Painting

Sometimes it’s the most fun to just let our littles explore freely! See what creations they come up with on their own!

Don’t let this activity fool you, painting rocks is super relaxing and fun for everyone to do, including you, Mama. I personally love to paint mandalas with puffy paint while the kids are exploring their own creative endeavors. Jump in and join the fun!