Parent tip
Set out construction paper and newspaper before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.
My Turn, Your Turn Painting
Share one paintbrush and one piece of paper, taking turns to add a stroke each — practising patience and cooperation through art.
Activity details
Instructions
- Lay newspaper or an old sheet on the floor and tape a large piece of construction paper on top.
- Set out three or four pots of washable paint and one paintbrush. Say: 'We're going to make a painting together — but we only have one brush!'
- Take the first turn yourself: choose a colour, make one big stroke, and say 'My turn — done! Now it's YOUR turn.'
- Hand the brush to your child and let them make their mark. Say: 'Your turn — what colour will you choose?'
- When they finish their stroke, gently say: 'Now it's my turn again.' Extend your hand for the brush.
- Continue taking turns for eight to ten rounds. Narrate the cooperation: 'Look what we're making together!'
- If your child struggles to hand the brush back, count to three together: 'One, two, three — my turn!' Keep it cheerful.
- When the painting is finished, hold it up together and say: 'We made this! Your part AND my part — it's beautiful because we shared.'
What success looks like
Messy hands and a child who doesn’t want to stop. The artwork doesn’t need to look like anything — the process is the point.
Turn-taking is the social scaffolding that underpins sharing, conversation, and cooperative play, yet it is one of the most challenging skills for toddlers to master because it requires impulse control and the ability to wait. This activity distils turn-taking into its simplest form: one paintbrush, one piece of paper, one stroke each. The visual result — a shared painting — provides a tangible record of collaboration, and the sensory pleasure of painting keeps motivation high even during the waiting moments. Over time, the pattern of 'my turn, your turn' becomes internalised as a social rhythm.
Why it helps
Birth to 5 Matters describes self-regulation as children's developing ability to manage emotions and behaviour, noting that co-regulation with a calm adult is the essential foundation for building this capacity. Turn-taking requires inhibitory control — the executive function that allows a child to suppress the urge to act immediately and wait for their moment. Practising this skill in a highly motivating context (art) lowers the frustration threshold and builds positive associations with waiting. The shared end product also teaches joint attention and cooperative goal-setting, both of which are precursors to more complex social play like collaborative pretend scenarios. The EYFS Personal, Social and Emotional Development goals identify self-regulation as a key milestone — and calm, playful practice is how children get there.
Variations
- Play with a sibling instead of a parent — sit between them and facilitate the turn-taking, handing the brush back and forth.
- Use finger paint instead of a brush — each person adds one fingerprint per turn, building a collaborative pattern.
- Add a rule: each person must use a different colour from the last turn, which adds a cognitive challenge to the patience practice.
Safety tips
- Use only non-toxic, washable paints and check the label for age-appropriateness.
- Dress your child in old clothes or use a painting apron — 'lots' of mess is part of the fun.
- Supervise paint pots closely to prevent tipping, and keep wet paintings out of reach while drying.
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