Check Out This Awesome Tie-Dye STEAM Activity for Kids!

Learn about color mixing and tie-dye with this Tie-Dye STEAM. This awesome hands-on activity for preschoolers, pre-k kiddos, and even kindergartners would be perfect for your beginning of the school year All About Me theme. Check it out!   

college of Tie-Dye STEAM images with text: Tie-Dye Investigation Station for KidsYesterday I shared our Quick & Easy Dot Painting for Kids activity and today it’s all about Tie-Dye STEAM. Woohoo! The little guy and I seriously had a blast with this activity! 

fabric with rubber bands and dye for tie-dye STEAM
Shirts can have buttons, snaps, pockets, or collars. We can fold shirts into different shapes. Some shirts have long sleeves and some shirts have short sleeves. 

child dripping dye on tie-dye art
child dripping dye on fabric child using dropper to tie-dye fabric
If you recall, I did the last one with just baby girl. And this one seemed perfect for the little guy and I to do together as part of his science for this week.

piece of fabric with rubber bands with dye added dye added to piece of fabric with rubber bands
We tried a few different materials and techniques and while we were at it discussed the Scientific Method.

child dripping dye on fabric to explore tie-dye
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A huge thanks to Experience Early Learning (formerly Mother Goose Time) for providing us with their Experience Preschool curriculum for free in exchange for sharing our honest and authentic stories resulting from our personal experiences. It’s been such a huge blessing to us! As always, my opinions on awesome stuff for little kids are 100% my own.

fabric with tie-dye sections separated by rubber bands fabric with tie-dye sections that are separated by rubber bands blue and purple tie-dye sections separated by rubber bands
Keep in mind that all preschoolers do things in their own time and on their own terms. What one is ready for, another might not be. Please use your best mama judgement when planning activities for your little kids. 



If you’re interested in putting together your very own Tie-Dye STEAM activity for your little kids, then you’re definitely going to want to keep reading! 

pink and purple tie-dye sections separated by rubber bands pink and orange tie-dye sections separated by rubber bands

Tie-Dye STEAM

What you’ll need

  • Paint
  • Coffee Filters
  • Rubber Bands

child exploring tie-dye with fabric, rubber bands, and watered-down paint
Here’s how to do it

  • Set out the supplies.
  • Encourage children to wrap the coffee filters with a rubber band and dip it into different watercolors. 
  • Unwrap it and discover the tie-dyed design. 

dyed fabric sections separated by rubber bands fabric with rubber bands separating tie-dye sections dye being dripped onto fabric
I love the “Big Questions” that are included with each and every one of the Investigation Station ideas from Experience Early Learning. Today, we’re exploring what happens when colors mix. 

What happens when colors mix? 

piece of fabric in the process of being tie-dyed
Not only is tie-dye a wonderful way to experience color mixing, but it also yields a beautiful end result. When it was all said and done, the little guy and I kept our projects.

tie-dye design on fabric fabric with tie-dye design
The one that he made is currently being used in the mud kitchen and the one that I created is in the basket with their play silks. 

child's tie-dye art tie-dye art
We started this activity with food color and water, which didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. The colors weren’t vibrant, etc. After that, we grabbed regular tempera paint and added water to it to make our own “dye.” Of course, you can see the gorgeous effects we got using that combination. 

dye on plastic tray
The little guy tried to tie-dye a piece of fabric that was a bit more quilted while mine was more like a t-shirt or cotton fabric. 

Either way, it was a great activity for learning about clothing as well as color mixing and we both learned a lot! We’re definitely going to get some tie-dye kits the next we go to the craft store and make t-shirts for the entire family! 

 piece of tie-dye fabric tie-dye fabric
Don’t forget to check back if you’re interested in seeing what we’re up to next week with our Weather & Seasons theme from Experience Early Learning (formerly Mother Goose Time). 

Looking for more insight & inspiration? Here are the top 10 most popular posts from The Keeper of the Memories. You’re definitely not going to want to miss these!

Experience Early Learning Early Childhood Education Verified Blogger badge with owlAs an Experience Early Learning Blog Ambassador, I receive the Experience Early Learning Preschool curriculum in exchange for my honest and authentic stories resulting from our personal experiences. As always, my opinions on awesome stuff for little kids are 100% my own. Keep in mind that all preschoolers do things in their own time and on their own terms. What one is ready for, another might not be. Please use your best mama judgement when planning activities for your little kids. #preschool #homeschool #mgtblogger

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college of Tie-Dye STEAM images with text: Tie-Dye STEAM Investigation Station for Kids

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