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Art for KidsSUPPLIES
- Water
- Flour
- Food coloring
- Assorted powdered gelatin (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
- Small containers with lids
- Mixing bowl
- Spoons or stirrers
- Whisk or mixer
- Ladle (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
Overview
Kids love to create, and the messier the better. Painting is a favorite of many kids, especially finger painting. Even the youngest kids can finger paint. Who knows, maybe your child is the next budding Picasso. They go through paint so fast though that buying paint can make a dent in your budget. A great and cheap solution is to make your own kids paint. It's easy to make with simple items so your kids can paint to their hearts content as much as they'd like.
Step 1
Food coloring.Assemble your ingredients, bowls and other supplies in front of you within easy reach. Be sure to include a bottle of food coloring in each color of paint you intend to make. Allow the kids to help if you'd like as you go along.
Step 2
Measure 2 cups of flour into the mixing bowl. The mixing bowl should be large enough to allow stirring without the mixture splashing over the sides. A bowl with a pour spout works best, but any mixing bowl will do if you pour carefully.
Step 3
Mixing the ingredients.Add 2 cups of water to the flour in the mixing bowl. Use a wire whisk to mix the flour and water completely. The whisk is preferred over a spoon so that there will not be any remaining lumps. A mixer may also be used on low speed.
Step 4
Check to be sure that all the flour is mixed well. Pour the mixture into the individual small containers. Use as many containers as you need for the different colors that you will want. If preferred, you can use a ladle to dip and pour the kids paint mixture into the containers
Step 5
Choose your coloring preference. Different colors of powdered gelatin can be used, but actual food coloring mixes better and makes a smoother paint
Step 6
Take one color of gelatin or food coloring and add to an individual container of paint mix a pinch or a drop at a time. Use a spoon or stirrer to mix the coloring and flour and water mixture together until well blended. Do this for each color you want to make.
Step 7
Glitter adds sparkle.Make the finger paint a little extra fun if desired by adding just a pinch of glitter to the containers. When kids paint with their new homemade kids finger paints, the pictures will have an added sparkle.
Step 8
Finished kids paint.Close the lids on unused paints and store covered. The paints will last a day, maybe two; beyond that, the flour may begin to have an odor.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : To give shine to the paints, add a drop or two of vegetable oil with the food coloring and mix well.
Save the back of cereal boxes. The underside of a cut out cereal box makes a great canvas because the paint will not soak through.
- WARNING : When using glitter, make sure the kids do not touch their eyes with their fingers when painting. This will prevent glitter accidentally getting into a child's eye.
Be aware that some flavored colored gelatin powders can stain fingers for a while.
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