Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Pom-Pom Chick Stamping
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Pom Pom Chick Stamping is a free printable Easter craft activity. Children make their own fluffy little chicks by stamping with pom poms. It is a simple, hands on way to explore colour, texture and spring colours, and it suits little ones who enjoy getting stuck in.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company. Print the sheet, gather a few craft supplies and let your child lead. Black and white printing works well, because the colour comes from the paint.
What is on the sheet
Children use pom poms as stamps to make Easter chicks. They dip, press and lift, then see how a soft, fluffy tool leaves a different mark from a brush or a finger. They choose their own colours and decide how their chicks will look. There is no right or wrong result. The aim is to enjoy making, notice textures and talk about spring.
Setting up your stamping space
Gather your supplies
You need pom poms, washable paint and a pencil or felt tip. Pour a little paint onto a plate or lid so it is easy to dip into. Keep a few spare sheets of scrap paper nearby for testing.
Protect the table
Cover the table with newspaper or a wipe clean cloth. Roll up sleeves and put on an apron or old shirt. Keep a damp cloth close so hands can be wiped between colours.
Hold the pom pom
Little fingers can get very messy. A clothes peg or a pair of child safe tongs makes a handy handle. Your child can also simply pinch the pom pom, which is good for hand strength.
Leave room to dry
Wet paint needs a flat place to dry. Clear a shelf or a spare table so finished chicks can rest. Add details like eyes and beaks once the paint has dried, so nothing smudges.
Why pom pom stamping works for little ones
Stamping is one of the first printmaking ideas children meet. They press a tool covered in paint onto paper and a mark appears. A pom pom is a friendly stamp because it is soft and round, and it makes a gentle, fuzzy print. It is easy to hold, and the print looks different every time depending on how hard children press.
Easter is a spring festival in the UK, and chicks are a familiar part of it. Chicks hatch from eggs, which links neatly to new life and the changing season. A chick craft gives children a real reason to talk about spring, practise using colour on purpose, and build the small hand movements they will later use for writing and drawing.
Small pom poms can be a choking hazard for very young children, so an adult should stay close and supervise throughout. Use washable paint made for children, and wash hands once the craft is finished.
Fun facts about chicks
- A chick is a baby chicken.
- Chicks hatch from eggs.
- A hen is a grown up female chicken, and she lays eggs.
- A newborn chick is covered in soft, fluffy feathers called down.
- In the UK, Easter happens in spring.
Skills and curriculum link
- Colour mixing and choice
- Printmaking
- Fine motor control
- Exploring texture
- Creative expression
- Talking about spring
Making the most of the activity
- Test firstLet your child try a few dabs on scrap paper before using the sheet. They learn how much paint to pick up and how hard to press.
- Less paint is easierA lightly loaded pom pom gives a clearer, fluffier print. Too much paint makes a blob. If this happens, simply let it dry and carry on.
- One colour at a timeUse a separate pom pom for each colour. This keeps the colours bright and stops them turning muddy.
- Talk as you goAsk what colour they will choose next and how the pom pom feels. Naming colours and textures builds useful vocabulary.
Key words
- ChickA baby chicken.
- Pom pomA soft, fluffy ball made from lots of tiny strands.
- StampTo press something into paint, then press it onto paper to leave a mark.
- PrintThe mark left behind when a painted object touches paper.
- TextureHow something feels to touch, such as soft, fluffy, rough or smooth.
- SpringThe season after winter when plants grow and baby animals are born.
How to use it
- Print the sheet and set out your supplies. Cover the table and put paint onto a plate or lid.
- Look at the sheet together. Ask your child what they notice and what colours they would like to use.
- Show how to dip the pom pom lightly in the paint, then press it onto the paper and lift it straight up.
- Let your child stamp in their own way. Encourage them to try different colours and different amounts of pressure.
- Leave the paint to dry. Then add any details with a pencil or felt tip, and talk about what they made.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Offer a clothes peg as a handle and let your child practise on scrap paper first. Use only one or two colours to begin with. Show a gentle dab rather than a hard push, and praise every print.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to make a pattern with their stamps, such as yellow, orange, yellow, orange. Or they can draw a nest, grass or flowers around their chicks. They could also name each chick and tell a short story about it.
Make it a game
Play colour call. One person calls out a colour and the other dabs a pom pom in that colour and stamps once. Swap roles after each turn. See what bright patterns you make together.
Talk about it
- What colours make you think of spring?
- How does the pom pom feel in your hand?
- What happens if you press very softly? What about harder?
- Which print is your favourite, and why?
- Where do you think baby chicks live and sleep?
- What would you like to make next with the pom poms?
Take it off the page
Fluffy feely hunt
Collect soft and fluffy things from around the house, such as cotton wool, a scarf or a cushion. Sort them by texture and talk about how each one feels.
Spring walk
Go outside and look for signs of spring, like blossom, buds and birds. Talk about the colours you see and which ones you could use in a picture.
Egg and chick story
Make up a short story about a chick hatching from an egg. Act it out together, then draw your favourite part.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child and let them take the lead. Focus on the fun of making rather than the finished picture. Keep wipes handy and enjoy the mess together.
Teachers
Use it as a spring or Easter art task, a calm continuous provision activity or a fine motor session. It links to colour, texture and printmaking, and children can talk about their work in a plenary.
Home educators
A good low prep activity for a spring topic. Pair it with a walk to spot spring signs, or with books about chicks and eggs. Display the finished chicks to celebrate the work.
Where this fits
Pom pom stamping builds on early mark making, such as finger painting and brush play. Children learn that tools make different marks, and they start to choose colours deliberately.
Later, children can try other stamps, like sponges, vegetables or leaves, and begin to build repeating patterns. These skills support more detailed art, drawing and early writing.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Pom Pom Chick Stamping for?
It is aimed at little ones who enjoy hands on creative play. Younger children will need an adult close by, especially with small pom poms. Older children can add their own details and patterns to make the activity more challenging.
- What do we need to do this activity?
You need the printed sheet, pom poms and washable paint. A plate or lid for the paint, scrap paper and a wipe clean surface help a lot. Pencils or felt tips are useful for adding details once the paint is dry.
- How do I stop the pom poms getting too messy?
Use a clothes peg or tongs as a handle, and put only a little paint on the plate. Dab the pom pom lightly on scrap paper first to remove extra paint. Keep a damp cloth nearby for fingers.
- Is it safe for young children?
Small pom poms can be a choking hazard, so an adult should supervise closely. Use washable paint made for children and keep pom poms away from mouths. Wash hands well when the craft is finished.
- Can we use something other than pom poms?
Yes. Sponges, corks, cotton wool balls or a scrunched piece of kitchen paper all make interesting prints. Using different tools helps children compare textures and see how each one leaves a different mark.
- Does the activity teach anything, or is it just a craft?
It does both. Children practise colour choice, printmaking and hand control, and they explore texture. At strand level, it links to the art and design curriculum, where children use materials creatively and learn about colour and texture.
- Can we reuse the sheet?
You can print it again as many times as you like. Each time, children can choose different colours and press in a different way, so every chick looks new. It is a nice activity to repeat each spring.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.