Kibble Trace: Draw a Design, Decorate with Kibble

‍

If your children love getting creative and decorating their artwork, this activity is a perfect fit - just with a fun twist! We’re swapping glitter, stickers, and pom-poms for tasty dog treats. Your child gets to design a masterpiece, and your pup gets to enjoy the final creation.

‍

WHAT YOU NEED:

• ‍Drawing paper: regular construction paper or easel paper are great options
• Dry ingredients: treats or kibble
• ‍Tape to adhere paper to the floor 
• Non-toxic markers, crayons, or colored pencils

‍

‍

HOW TO PLAY

Step 1: Gather your Paper and Art Supplies

Place them on a table, counter, or other supportive place for drawing.

Insights from Dominika: My children preferred larger sheets of paper and drawing on the floor. If you have multiple children, you can divide the drawing area into quadrants for multiple designs. Alternatively, standard copy or construction paper sheets have saved my sanity when the kids aren’t in the headspace to share the same piece of paper.

‍

Step 2: Draw the Designs 

Have the kids doodle a picture with their markers, crayons, or colored pencils. You can give them a prompt or theme to follow, or let their own spontaneous creativity take the lead! If you have a younger child, you can draw for them.

‍

Insights from Emme: If your dog tends to drool a lot while eating, consider skipping the washable markers and opt for another drawing tool. Their drool can make the color run, potentially upsetting the creator and causing a bit of a rainbow on the dog’s chin.

‍

Step 3: Secure the Paper 

Once the drawings are complete, tape the paper down onto the floor in the location where your dog will be able to access the activity.

‍

Step 4: Time to Decorate 

Have the children add kibble or treats to the designs, either tracing the lines of the pictures or placing them within the negative space (or a mix of both!).  

‍

Step 5: Art Gallery: Now Open 

Once the children have put the finishing touches on their masterpieces, have them step aside and invite the dog to explore their tasty artwork.

‍

Step 6: Artistic Additions 

For an even more sophisticated gallery presentation, consider using a mix of dry treats with various colors and shapes to adorn the doodles. 

Reminder to appropriately manage child and dog spaces while the dog’s food is present.

‍

Insights from Emme: Since both my kids are preschool age, I love using this activity as a way to practice some number and letter recognition. Around holidays, we’ll also doodle drawings that fit the season (think candy canes for Christmas time) as a way to celebrate with the whole family!

‍

More Fun Activities

After creating kibble designs, try Draw, Color, Paint a Picture (kids draw their dog and gift the photo)  or Kibble Drop (kids design a treat dispenser out of pipes and tubes).

‍

This game is part of our Kids & Dogs Activity Series.

‍

Want more support?

Explore our Baby & Toddler Courses here.

And check out my first children’s book, Lola and the Bubble Mission.