There are endless possibilities to mark making, it doesn’t just have to involve using pens and paper! Here are seven activities to get those little hands and muscles moving.
Swirly whirly sensory tray
Early years and a perfect way to encourage those little hand movements. Customise your trays with anything you like, we chose coloured rice, but the possibilities are endless!
What you'll need:

Peg-it painting
Run out of paint brushes? No problem! Try clipping tin foil, feathers, dish sponges or anything else that you can find onto a wooden peg for an abstract approach to painting.
What you'll need:
- 876087 - Large Pegs
- A variety of different materials
- 137251 - A4 Sugar Paper
- 749818 - YPO Ready Mixed Paint (20 pack)

Creations with cars
A unique take on traditional mark making. Secure pens to moveable cars using tape or rubber bands and let children squiggle away whilst racing their motors! Why not take this activity to the next level and draw a track for the cars to drive around?
What you'll need:
- 801750 - Wooden Cars
- 75126X - YPO Broad Tip Colouring Pens
- 753696 - YPO Elastic Rubber Bands, Assorted Colours
- 306797 - Play Tray Paper Pad
- 801661 - YPO Play Tray - Blue
- 801663 - Adjustable Play Tray Stand

Mash it mark making
Let your little learners create a printed masterpiece by encouraging them to dip their mashers into the different coloured paints and create their designs! They’ll develop those
essential fine motor skills as they grasp the mashers and clasp their fists.
What you'll need:
- Potato Mashers
- Paper Plates
- 749818 - YPO Ready Mixed Paint (20 pack)

Roly-poly printing
A simple but super effective activity. Wrap rolling pins with bubble wrap, string, corrugated or textured card and ask children to dip it into their paint colour of choice. Then, let their imaginations run wild as they roll over the card in different directions. This is a great way to get those upper body muscles moving.
What you'll need:
- 876093 - Messy Play Utensils (Rolling Pins)
- 720030 - Bubble Wrap
- 139389 - Corrugated Card
- 718300 - White Cotton String
- 736740 - Premium Double-Sided Tape
- 731188 - Shallow Inking Tray
- 749818 - YPO Ready Mixed Paint (20 pack)
- 137251 - A4 Sugar Paper

Upside down easel
Who needs a real art easel when you’ve got this activity idea? All you need is a play tray and stand to get started. Children will develop their fine motor skills as they glide their paint brushes up, down and side to side.
What you'll need:
- 804311 - Adjustable Mini Play Tray Stand
- 804310 - YPO Mini Play Tray
- 230235 - Cling Film (450mm wide)
- 749818 - YPO Ready Mixed Paint (20 pack)
- 759082 - Junior Chubby Brushes
- 819247 - Paint Tray and Pots

Messy movements
There’s nothing more exciting than messy play! As well as being fantastically fun, it helps develop both big and small movements as children get their hands sticky by mixing and making patterns in the foam.
What you'll need:
- 801114 - Crazy Soap Foam, White
- 809695 - Fun2Play Activity Tray
- 809694 - Fun2Play Activity Tray Stand
- 749818 - YPO Ready Mixed Paint (20 pack)
- 736982 - Craft BioGlitter
- 536016 - Dowel (12mm)

These activities have been taken from Little Learners, a FREE magazine full of early years resources and activities. Click here to read our latest issue!