Blooming Feelings – Art Therapy Through Bubble Wrap Painting

Learning Benefits:

Encourages emotional expression and self-reflection

Helps with stress relief and confidence-building

Teaches kids to associate colors with feelings

Age Group: 3-7 years old

Duration: 1 hour

Purpose: Helping kids express emotions and build self-awareness through colors and textures

Materials Needed:

- Thick paper or canvas

- Non-toxic tempera or acrylic paints

- Bubble wrap (cut into round flower shapes)

- Soft sponges or brushes

- Cotton swabs for details

- Small bowls for mixing colors

- Optional: calming background music

Step 1: Gentle Introduction – Colors & Emotions (10 min)

Welcome to Blooming Feelings, a painting experience that helps us express emotions through colors and textures!

Before we begin, let's take a deep breath together. Art is not about being perfect—it’s about letting our feelings flow.

Think about colors for a moment:

- Which color feels happy to you?

- Which color reminds you of feeling calm?

- Is there a color that matches how you feel today?

We’ll be creating soft, textured flowers using bubble wrap—a fun way to press colors onto the canvas and explore how they blend together. Let’s get started!

Step 2: Painting with Emotional Expression (15 min)

1. Choose a color that reflects how you're feeling today.

2. Dip the bubble wrap flowers into that color and press onto paper.

3. Add new colors—how does mixing them change the feeling of your painting?

4. Use cotton swabs to create gentle details in the flower centers.

Step 3: Mindful Exploration (15 min)

- Soft strokes with sponges create a peaceful feeling.

- Bold, deep colors might show strong emotions.

- Bright colors layered together can express excitement or happiness!

Let kids observe their artwork—does it match how they felt at the beginning?

Step 4: Personalizing & Reflection (15 min)

What does this painting remind you of?

How do these colors make you feel now?

If your painting could tell a story, what would it say?

Wrapping Up with Positivity

Your artwork is a reflection of your emotions, and each painting is special because it comes from you!

Take a moment to look at your flowers—how did they grow with color and texture? Did anything surprise you?

Art helps us connect with ourselves and express emotions that words sometimes can’t. Keep creating, exploring, and letting your feelings shine through colors.

Thank you for painting with me today!