Your 23-month-old is one month away from turning two, and their art skills have come remarkably far. They can draw recognizable circles, paint with a loaded brush, and are starting to combine materials — sticking stickers onto painted surfaces, layering colors with intention. This is mixed-media art at the toddler level, and it is genuinely creative. Keep the play mat stocked and the supplies within reach.
6 Art Activities for Your 23-Month-Old
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Layered Painting — Let your toddler paint a base layer of color on paper, wait for it to dry, then paint a second layer on top. Seeing one color over another introduces the concept of layering and creates rich, textured artwork.
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Feather Painting — Give your 23-month-old a large feather dipped in paint as a brush. The soft, flexible tip creates light, wispy strokes that look completely different from anything a regular brush makes.
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Shape Matching Collage — Pre-cut shapes from colored paper and draw matching outlines on a base sheet. Your toddler matches each shape to its outline and glues it down, building spatial reasoning and shape recognition through art.
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Bubble Wrap Printing — Wrap a piece of bubble wrap around a rolling pin or simply press it flat onto paint, then stamp it onto paper on the mat. The circular dot pattern is visually striking, and popping leftover bubbles is a bonus activity.
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Crayon Etching — Help your toddler color a section of paper with heavy, bright crayon layers, then paint over it with diluted black washable paint. When dry, use a popsicle stick to scratch designs into the paint, revealing color underneath.
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Pasta Necklace Stringing — Dye dried penne or rigatoni with food coloring, let it dry, and help your toddler thread the pieces onto a thick string or pipe cleaner. This is wearable art that doubles as a fine motor challenge.
Safety Note
Feather quills can be sharp at the tip — trim the point before handing one to your toddler. Ensure dried pasta is too large to swallow whole, and supervise string activities closely to prevent tangling around fingers or neck. Use non-toxic paint for crayon etching.
Best Surface for Art Play
Multi-layer painting, bubble wrap stamping, and pasta dyeing all produce drips and debris. A Poco Koko memory foam play mat gives your toddler a forgiving, wipeable surface that cleans up fast — so you can say yes to messy art every day. Explore our play mat collection.
Related: When Do Babies Walk
Written by the Poco Koko Team — parents, product designers, and child safety researchers dedicated to creating safer floors for families.