How and what do I get my 3-4 year olds to paint on a tile?

Hand prints.

Get them to simply paint their little hands and then stamp them on the tile..the mothers will love it!

So they want to fill it with paint--cool! Kids don't have the "less is more" idea yet ...maybe after they paint-they can scrap the paint with a Popsicle stick or q-tip and make designs in the paint/glaze... Or...take the tile and stamp it with sponge prints for designs-offer a small selection of shapes..or use a potato.... or--make a tile--with a hand print. Or...skip the tile idea-and use a soft ball of clay-flatten it-and help each child make a print in the clay of their own hand...I did one in kindergarten in 1955-mom saved it-I found it after she died--it was very special to her....so I did it with each of my kids--made them them to the grandparents too...and also helped the kids immortalize their pet cat too...soo..."Stinky's" paw print hangs on the wall along with the kids. Use a pencil and date it-with their name into the soft clay....years later--it's amazing to have those tiny hand prints-complete with fingerprints...! We treated their whole preschool to hand prints-then fired the prints in a bisque kiln to save for all time. Don't forget a hole to hang it up with when the clay's still wet! Mother's Day will be coming up next spring....,..

flowers are always easy for little ones to paint, also faces...clouds...trees...but flowers are the easiest for them..

It would be super cute to give them all the same basic object to paint (such as a flower, a piece of fruit, etc). That way, when they're all together in the gallery it will be obvious (looking at the collective whole) what they painted AND it will be super neat to see the variations between each child's piece.