Monster Smash- Sponge Stamping Activity for Kids

This might be the last Halloween post I get out, but boy is it a fun one! This is great for a mixed aged group and makes a cute take home craft. Check out the details below.

We don’t use googly eyes often, but boy do the kids go wild when we do! So fun to keep on hand and they really elevate an activity.

Here’s What You Need

• Paper

• Sponge- we grabbed the least expensive ones we could find at the store. Just make sure you can cut them!

• Paint- we use this paint for every activity, and I have replenished our stock multiple times. This paint washes out so easily and produces such vivid colors. I’m hooked.

• Googly eyes

• Paint palette (not pictured, but very useful)

• Scissors

• Smock- optional, but if you have early preschoolers or younger, this might be a good idea. Vaila kept this activity pretty tidy and I’m never worried about this paint staining her clothes, but something to consider.

Set up

2 minutes

1. Cut the sponge stamps into different shapes and sizes. Remember- you can use more than one side of the sponge.

2. Add paint to the paint palette and start stamping away!

3. Let the paint dry, then add googly eyes and draw in details such as horns, spikes, feet, or tails. Our googly eyes are self adhesive, but the tiny ones require an adult to remove the backing, so we also added a glue stick in to the mix so the kids could be more independent.

Vaila (4) has been practicing pouring the paint. It has been a great learning experience for her and super low stakes. If she pours too much, we wipe it up or scoop it back into the bottle. It has really boosted her confidence.

Also note the leaves in the corner- she felt very attached to hear leaf bouquet the day we did this activity!

Clean Up

1-2 minutes

1. Wash out the paint palette and the sponges. My sponges rinsed out in about 20 seconds under the water after sitting with paint on them for 3-5 hours (I had to leave to do school pickup and then go to work!). I’m telling you this paint is wonderful.

2. Let everything dry full and you are done!

We set this activity up multiple times in one week because the kids loved it so much! It was great for a group and kept them occupied while I cooked. I LOVE activities like this!

The kids can stamp or paint with the sponges. Just remind them to only work with a little bit of paint at a time so it can dry sooner.

This activity was so fun for the kids and was a great way to offer some creative control. I loved seeing how each child planned (or not) how they wanted their monsters to look. Kids are amazing when they let their differences shine.

Brinley (6) was very independent with this activity but still thought it was an absolute blast. Vaila (4) made a lot of pages of stamped monsters because she requested this activity 4 times in total! She needed the glue for the sticky eyeballs, but was otherwise also very independent. Ellette (2) needed more direction and supervision, but she also really liked simply watching her big sisters. Again, this paint is fantastic and I’m not the least bit worried if it gets on the floor, table, or someone’s clothes. It washes out perfectly and has never stained in the 5 years I’ve been using it.

Now we have a ton of monsters to display year after year for Halloween! I hope you give this activity a try. Let me know in the comments if you do!

Looking for other activities? Check these out:

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