Cooperative Mural Painting Project
Paint a giant picture together on a long sheet of paper — learning to share space, materials, and creative ideas as a team.
What You'll Need
- 1Large butcher paper or taped-together sheets
- 2Washable paints in multiple colors
- 3Paintbrushes and sponges
- 4Tape to secure paper
- 5Smocks or old shirts
What You'll Need
Large butcher paper or sheets taped together (the bigger the better)
Washable paints in several colors
Paintbrushes and sponges for everyone
Tape to secure the paper to the floor or wall
Smocks or old shirts to protect clothes
How to Play
Tape a giant sheet of paper to the floor or a low wall. Make it big enough for everyone.
Set out paints, brushes, and sponges where everyone can reach them.
Choose a theme together: "Let's paint an underwater world!" or "Let's paint our family."
Loosely assign sections so everyone has space: "You paint the fish, I'll paint the water."
Paint side by side, talking about what you're making and admiring each other's work.
Model respect: "Can I paint a starfish near your coral reef?" and wait for permission.
When finished, step back and admire together. Every person contributed to something bigger.
Why It Works
A cooperative mural requires children to share space, share materials, and negotiate creative decisions — all in real time. Unlike solo art, the mural belongs to everyone. Your child has to consider other people's vision alongside their own. When two sections of the mural meet, that boundary becomes a conversation. "My ocean meets your sky" is a beautiful metaphor for how cooperation works in life.
Tips
Provide plenty of paint and brushes. Running out of supplies creates conflict, not cooperation.
If one child's section dominates, gently redirect: "There's space over here for your idea too."
Hang the finished mural on the wall. Seeing their collaborative work displayed reinforces the team effort.
This scales beautifully for birthday parties or classroom projects with many children contributing.
Age Adaptation Tips
Preschoolers can follow multi-step instructions. Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to predict what will happen next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 30 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: large butcher paper or taped-together sheets, washable paints in multiple colors, paintbrushes and sponges, tape to secure paper, smocks or old shirts.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 3-5 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors or outdoors?
This activity works great both indoors and outdoors, giving you flexibility based on the weather or your space.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 30 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.