Great activity for toddlers!

[amberpatomo]

Okay so I was telling 5D and LnF about paints I purchased for my daughter. It turned into a gicantic mess that included my bathtub, kitchen counter & floor, wash rags & both of our clothes . It was fun but it caused me great frustration because the cleanup was enormous. It doesn't give me much motivation to do it again

Anyway so I decided that I had to come up with a way for her to express herself without the mess. I had some cheap construction paper I bought for her to color on but she didn't like it much. It was cheap so that meant that it wasn't the best quality. It ripped and didn't take glue well.

So anyway, I took out my basting brush and filled a mug with a bit of water for her to paint with on the construction paper. It was GREAT! Water got all over the counter and the floor but it didn't require all the previous things. she could see her "paint" strokes well and it would color the paper a darker shade.

Now she asks for the "paint" all day!

[Big_Sissy]

Great idea. I hate all that stuff that makes a mess. I always consider what I feel the fun level to clean up ratio to be, and if they don't make sense, I discourage the activity. My wife on the other hand is much nicer.

For some reason that just how I do it. If the ratio's not there, it aint gonna happen.

[5ft Diva]

Amber, that is an awesome idea! Where were you 8 years ago? I now have a great summer time activity! I really need to keep a note pad next to my computer and write these ideas down. Erudite I'm sure is chuckling right now since that's always what she tells me....Write it down.

[missypoohsticks]

They also have new Color Wonder paints. I don't know if you're familiar with the Color Wonder line, but they only color on the special Color Wonder paper and won't get on anything else. AWESOME!!

[Erudite]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

Erudite I'm sure is chuckling right now since that's always what she tells me....Write it down.

I was not. But it never hurts to write it down.

I have never done this, but I always thought it was a good idea. Make vanilla pudding and divide into a couple of different cups. Start by adding red and yellow and blue food coloring to the cups and then mix them together to make orange, green, and purple to show kids color mixing. But then give them a cookie sheet with edges and have them make a picture with their hands. This should be fun for the very young because they can safely eat all the "paint" they want. Just do it right before you were going to give them a bath anyway.