Outdoor Painting with Toy Cars

Get ready to turbocharge your little one’s imagination with a fabulously fun activity that’s perfect for those sunny outdoor days: Wheel Track Painting aka painting with toy cars!

It’s simple, it’s colorful, and, best of all, it’s a huge hit with kids of all ages.

Outdoor Painting with Toy Cars Set-Up

Grab a large cardboard such as large Amazon boxes or packing boxes cut open and flattened, roll out those washable paints, and let’s get those wheels spinning!

Toy cars, trucks, or anything with wheels can become your kiddo’s brush.

The bigger the variety, the more exciting the tracks! Remember, older toy vehicles are your best bet, just to keep those favorites paint-free.

We used a mixture of sizes of toy car – including monster trucks is also a great option because the wheels are nice and big so those are some of our favorites.

The Benefits of this Activity

Not only is this a blast, but it’s also a crafty way to develop gross motor skills and creativity. Your little ones will be zooming, swishing, and curving those cars all over, not even realizing they’re learning about colors, patterns, and cause-effect relationships.

From your adventurous toddlers to three-year-old preschoolers to the more strategic older kids, everyone can get in on the action. You’d be surprised how even the big kids can’t resist the call of the paint, and even 18 month old toddlers can have a lot of fun with this too.

If you set up a large area for this painting activity then there is plenty of room for everyone to get involved, and it’s a fun activity for siblings or a group of kids to add to the chaos.

It’s a blast to watch the kids get involved, each adding their own flair to the shared canvas. You might even find yourself itching to make a few tire tracks!

Painting with Toy Cars Clean-Up

We’re not going to lie… this one is not exactly a mess free activity. But,washable paint is a lifesaver, isn’t it?

When the masterpiece is complete, turn the hose on for a bonus round of splish-splash car wash fun, or set up a large tub with soapy water and have the kids wash and scrub each of the cars until they are back to being nice and clean. You can save this activity for the next day if preferred, and the washable paint should still come off the cars.

But, we would recommend don’t use your very best toy cars – just go with the slightly older ones where your kiddos won’t be too upset if they don’t stay 100% pristine.

So, what are you waiting for? Unleash those little racers and let the colorful chaos begin! Your lawn might just become the next open-air gallery on the block.

Happy painting!

More Vehicle Activities for Kids

Vroom, vroom, zoom into fun! If your mini motor enthusiasts loved leaving their mark with wheel track paintings, they’re going to be thrilled with more vehicle-themed activities we’ve lined up.

These activities are perfect for playdates or solo adventures. Get those engines ready for more imaginative play that’ll drive their curiosity wild!

• 50 fun and easy transportation crafts for preschool kids
• Soda Bottle Rocket Kids Craft
• Measuring Vehicles Distances, STEM activity inspired by Blaze and the Monster Machines

More Painting Activities for Kids

If your kiddos are painting enthusiasts and are looking for more ways to express their inner Picasso, we’ve got you covered. From tape resist painting to using bubbles as brushes, our assortment of painting activities is sure to brighten up your child’s day.

These ideas are not only a blast but also a wonderful way to explore creativity and sensory play.

• Tape Resist Painting
• Glow in the Dark Space Painting
• Bubble Wrap Printed Fruit & Veg
• Bubble Painting Process Art

If you’re loving these activities, we bet your friends and fellow parents will, too! Please share this blog post on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook to spread the inspiration.