Don't be afraid to get messy!
I have let my 3-year old paint since he was 6 months old. Paint with something editable and let the messy fun begin! Both Baby Sister and Bubba loved it. Use a strong paper, like cardstock. I used foods my Little One (LO) didn't care for. After the painting dries, cut out a bunch of shapes. NEW WORK!
This lesson lasted about 3 minutes for the LO and about 15 for the Preschooler (PK). I cleaned up the LO while the other continued working independently. When I came back to see his work, he told me he used a book about animals, to paint an alligator. That is what it is all about! Your child independently pulling resources to learn. This inspired a jungle activity!