Finger painting has many benefits to the overall healthy development of your child.
Finger painting helps your child explore color mixing with sensory integration such as sight and touch.
Finger painting also strengthens finger and hand muscles which develop your child’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Your child will learn how to visually express what they are feeling which lead to developing their own self expression and building their overall self confidence.
Finger painting is also a great beginner art activity for the younger artists as little fingers may not be ready to handle a brush yet.
There are so many great benefits to finger paint…yet, I understand why many moms don’t want to do it.
As a busy mom, myself …. I get it…finger painting is messy and takes up more time.
While I do encourage you to try finger painting with your child when you have a block of free time like on a weekend morning, I do have an alternative art activity that can fit into any busy schedule.
This activity takes only minutes to prep and your child can have fun mixing colors and drawing in the paint with no mess.
Mess Free Finger Painting in a Plastic Ziplock Bag
Materials:
Plastic Zip Lock Bag
Paint
Tape
Adult Prep: Squirt a few big squirts of paint into the ziplock bag. Let out all the air and seal the bag tightly (this is important otherwise it won’t be mess free). Tape the bag to a window where you child will be able to stand and reach it.
TIP: If you don’t have access to a window you can tape the bag to a table. Slide a white sheet of paper underneath the taped bag to help pop the colors of the paint from against the table.
Let your child create! They can draw with their finger their own designs in the paint and mix the colors around.
My favorite part of the activity is that all three kids (ages 6, 4 and 17 months) were able to participate. My other favorite part is there is minimal clean up!
Once your child has explored mixing and drawing in the paint take it a step further by challenging your child to create a rainbow!
CREATIVE CHALLENGE:
Use the primary colors (red, blue and yellow) to try and make a rainbow across the window.
Set up the activity the same as above except fill 3 ziplock bags with paint
ADULT PREP: Squirt red and yellow in first bag, blue and yellow in the second bag and blue and red in the third bag. Tape the bags up in order. Allow your child to mix and explore to trying to make a rainbow.
Discussion Questions:
What colors do you see appearing?
Which two colors make orange?
Which two colors make green?
Which two colors make purple?
What is special about the primary colors (red, yellow and blue)?
Activity Extensions:
Have your child practice drawing shapes or writing letters in the paint. Older children can write their names or even site words too.
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