Mess-LESS Finger Painting
- Denise
- Jun 2, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 14, 2023
On days when my nanny responsibilities are packed by the minute, messless finger painting is my go-to activity to entertain the kids and give them a sensory/tactile art project that requires NO CLEAN UP!
The paint stays sealed in a Ziploc® bag, so there are no messy fingers, paint brushes, and tables to clean up after, and the paint can last a few weeks taped to a window or sliding glass door.
This is an activity that you can make and then re-use over and over for a few weeks at a time!
I first did this activity with Kieran when he was about 18 months old because, at that age, he was in his Early Intervention program working with his physical therapist on his standing and squatting skills, and core stability when standing. This activity incentivized him to stand up at the window, and remain standing to draw on the paint pad.
This activity is also great on sunny days so the sun can shine through the artwork!
You don’t need a lot of supplies to make this activity, and the kiddos can choose which colors they want to “paint” with. You can make the paint pad with one color or multiple colors. You can add glitter or other fine materials for more sensory fun. Be creative!
Here’s all you need:
A box of one-gallon Ziploc clear freezer bags
Glitter (or microbeads, nothing sharp!)
Glue – if you want more security to keep the bag sealed, but it works without, too
Some notes:
Tempera paint, or “poster paint,” is best to use because it is kid-friendly, water-based, non-toxic and non-allergenic, and easy to wipe up if it spills on surfaces. It’s just the right thickness to squish around in the plastic bag.
Freezer bags are a bit thicker and more durable than the regular bags, which is why I recommend them for this project, though a regular bag will work in a pinch. Be sure to get the bag style with a flat seal at the top, not the slider.
Messless finger painting in action!
BENEFITS of this activity:
It encourages toddlers to practice their standing skills.
It provides a sensory learning experience for the whole hand when touching and manipulating the paint inside the bag.
It’s a great way to teach kids to write letters and numbers using their index finger, engaging the median nerve that connects to the brain.
It’s easy to draw or write something, and then swipe it away and start over. It’s also great for games like Tic-Tac-Toe.
It lets kids experiment with colors and shades as they mix different pain colors inside the bag.
The paint pad can be reused for a few weeks.
It’s a non-tech drawing tablet that won’t hurt your kids’ eyes.
No mess to clean up after the kids “paint” with their fingers!
Kids love to make this activity because it has just a few steps, and gives them flexibility with paint colors and glitters so they can be as creative as they want to be. And it replaces an electronic tablet with a non-tech paint pad as a way to draw over and over, using their hand as an eraser.
Try this with your own kiddos to keep them entertained while you get things done around the house. It’s finger painting … less the mess!
*Affiliate links are included in this post, from which we may receive a small commission from purchases.
Comments