Don't expect representational art from your toddler; do expect interest in the way the paint feels on his fingers and looks on paper. Sylvia Ford, an early-childhood educator in San Francisco, recommends showing your child how to use the brush or other applicator and then allowing your youngster to improvise. "There's no wrong way to apply paint to paper," Ford says.

Cover a tablecloth or a floor with newspaper and drape yourself and your art student in big T-shirts. Pour small amounts of paint into shallow containers, then organize your applicators (pine branches, feathers, sponges and combs make good ones). Demonstrate to your toddler how each might be used to apply paint. For example, dip a cotton swab in paint and dab onto paper. Start with one color of paint and two applicators, then introduce another color and applicator. Remove applicators as your child tires of them and have fresh paper handy. Encourage your toddler to experiment with different strokes--dabbing, splattering, dotting.