When your child watches Time Travelling Tots: Journey to Ancient Egypt, their eyes might light up at the sight of towering pyramids, golden pharaoh masks, or mysterious symbols carved into stone. These elements aren’t just visually appealing — they’re deeply rooted in a real artistic tradition that thrived for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian art wasn’t just decoration; it was a form of storytelling, worship, and identity.

For young learners, these artworks provide the perfect gateway to a world of creativity, history, and self-expression. The structured yet imaginative style of Egyptian art makes it easy for children to replicate while offering endless opportunities for conversation, comparison, and hands-on fun. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can turn your child’s curiosity into meaningful learning with creative activities that are both educational and fun — no art degree or special tools required.

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Why Ancient Egyptian Art Is So Great for Kids

Let’s face it: when we think of ancient art, we usually imagine old, dusty statues or crumbling paintings that might feel too abstract for a child to connect with. But Egyptian art is different. It’s bold, colorful, and surprisingly accessible — especially to children who are still learning how to draw and express themselves visually.

In ancient Egyptian art:

• People are often drawn in profile (side view), which simplifies body shapes.

• Size shows importance — pharaohs are big, servants are small.

• Symbols and color choices tell a story.

• Everything has a purpose — even the poses.

This is incredibly empowering for children. They learn that art doesn’t have to be “realistic” to be meaningful. It just has to communicate something. That’s a valuable lesson for any young artist — and a natural bridge between imagination and education.

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A Bit of Context: What Was Egyptian Art Used For?

Before diving into the activities, it helps to know what made Egyptian art so special. Unlike modern artists who often create for self-expression, Egyptian artists worked under strict rules to serve a spiritual and cultural function. Art was used to:

• Decorate temples and tombs.

• Honor gods and pharaohs.

• Preserve stories for the afterlife.

• Teach moral and social lessons.

Their artwork was all around them — not just in homes and palaces, but in everyday items like pottery, clothing, tools, and jewelry.

Sharing this with your child gives them a broader sense of what art can do. It’s not just something to hang on a wall — it’s something that tells who we are.

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Art Activities to Explore at Home

Now that your child has seen glimpses of ancient art in the Time Travelling Tots episode, it’s time to bring it to life with hands-on creativity. These activities are designed for kids aged 4–8 but can easily be adapted for younger or older children with small tweaks.

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1. Create a Side-Profile Self-Portrait

What to do:
Show your child how ancient Egyptians drew people sideways: head and feet in profile, eye and shoulders facing front. Then, using a mirror or photo, help them draw themselves using the same style.

Add a twist: Include accessories like a headdress, collar necklace, or even a pet cat like Bastet!

Skills developed:

• Fine motor control

• Spatial awareness

• Cultural comparison

Discussion prompt:
“What do you think their reason was for drawing people like this? Do you like drawing from the side or front better?”

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2. Design Your Own Hieroglyph Story

What to do:
Look up a basic hieroglyph alphabet (many are free online) and help your child spell their name or write a simple message using symbols. Then, draw a “scroll” or “papyrus” on long paper and decorate it with colors and shapes.

The figures were drawn in this way, perhaps to reflect the artist’s vision or the customs of their time.

Skills developed:

• Symbol recognition

• Phonics and early literacy

• Creativity and message-making

Discussion prompt:
“What do you think it was like to write without letters? Would you rather use pictures or words to tell a story?”

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3. Egyptian Wall Mural on a Big Sheet of Paper

What to do:
Tape together several sheets of paper on a table or wall. Work together to draw a large “temple wall” filled with traditional Egyptian scenes — farming, animals, sailing on the Nile, or ceremonies.

Encourage your child to use traditional Egyptian colors: gold, red, turquoise, black, and ochre.

Skills developed:

• Collaboration

• Storytelling through visuals

• Sequencing and planning

Discussion prompt:
“What story does our wall tell? Who would look at this art in ancient times?”

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4. Egyptian Symbol Challenge

What to do:
Print out or draw a few Egyptian symbols — the ankh (life), eye of Horus (protection), scarab beetle (rebirth), and so on. Talk about what each one meant. Then ask your child to invent their own symbol for something — love, bravery, joy — and explain it.

Skills developed:

• Critical thinking

• Design thinking

• Personal expression

Discussion prompt:
“If someone looked at your symbol 1000 years from now, what would it tell them about you?”

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What This Kind of Art Teaches Beyond Drawing

These aren’t just art projects. They offer your child a full sensory learning experience across multiple educational domains:

1. History

Through drawing and discussion, children learn how ancient people lived, what they valued, and how they expressed those values.

2. Literacy

Symbol-based storytelling builds early reading comprehension and helps children see connections between pictures and meaning.

3. Cultural Awareness

Your child will realize that people throughout history have found different ways to express identity, religion, and stories — some similar, some very different from ours.

4. Confidence and Creativity

Ancient Egyptian art doesn’t have to be perfect. It has structure, yes, but it allows a lot of freedom for personal interpretation. This is ideal for children who may feel frustrated by more “realistic” art styles.

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Turning Screen Time Into Something Lasting

Watching Journey to Ancient Egypt is a great way to spark interest. But it’s what happens next — what your child draws, imagines, and builds — that transforms it into deep learning.

Whether they spend five minutes doodling a pyramid or a full hour crafting their own wall of hieroglyphs, they’re engaging with history through their own creativity. They’re not just watching the past — they’re connecting with it.

And the best part? You’re a part of that process. By making space for art and conversation, you’re helping your child learn that the past isn’t a distant thing. It’s a canvas. And they have the tools to color it in.

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Want to Go Further?

Would you like a downloadable Egyptian art pack with printable templates for cartouches, masks, and symbols? Or a simple guide to ancient Egyptian colors and their meanings? Let me know — I’d love to help you extend this learning journey even further.