Hi Gayle, I’m so glad you were brave enough to try this art activity with three and four year olds. Well done!

As you experienced, that age group enjoys citrus printing more as a process art activity, which is great for them. Process art activities help young children become comfortable with art materials in a playful way. Generally, they are not ready to make more product oriented art. Nor should they be forced to if you want them to enjoy art in the future.

Older kids, teens and adults however can make citrus prints as a more product oriented activity, and are better able to make gifts with citrus prints on them.

For younger children, such as the age group you are working with, I like to think of citrus printing like finger painting with citrus fruits. Let them get messy and have fun exploring how to make art, just like you did. Rather than striving for a polished or finished piece, help them focus on the act of creation itself.

Thanks for sharing your experience, keep offering fun ways to explore art to the children in your playgroup!

Nell

Hi Stephanie, good question. I haven’t tried it before, so I’m not sure, but I think the lemons will still make great citrus stamps to create art from the prints if you put them in a bag and put them in the fridge after cutting the membranes out. I really doubt they will dry up and become un-useful. So I recommend giving it a try. Happy citrus stamping and printing!