No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

  • Blog
  • About
    • Terms Of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
    • Advertise
    • In The Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Preschool Activities
  • crafts for kids
    Preschool Crafts
  • Preschool Books
  • sensory alphabet activity
    Letters & Numbers
  • For Teachers
  • Toddlers
  • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary

February 24, 2015 | 10 Comments

9 Tips For Finger Painting With Your Toddler

finger painting for toddlers Of all the questions I get one of the most common is “How do you deal with the mess?” This is often followed by “I just can’t do messy stuff with my kids.”  If messy things really honestly upsets you I am here to tell you that it’s not worth the upset. If you will spend the whole time cleaning up after them, telling them to not do this or that it’s not worth it as an activity at your house. That’s OK. We all have our limits and not allowing messy art in your house doesn’t make you a bad parent.

If you are just nervous but eager to try it than these tips are for you. Over the years these have been my go to ways to make messy art like finger painting a wonderfully creative experience for my kids without me budding in every two minutes with a wipe interrupting their play. When we break up their play with wipes and cleaning up under them what we are saying is ” What you are doing is wrong, let me fix that.” or ” This is annoying me, let me make it right.” Sure this won’t register with every kid but most pick up on it and by nature most children want to please us. If we are going to let them be creative we need to find ways to make it work for all of us so we aren’t stepping in constantly.

These tips will help! These are old pictures of my now four and a half year old daughter, she was just under two when we did this activity.

finger painting with toddlers

1. If possible strap them in. If you use a booster seat for meals use that same chair for the activity. When their hands are covered in paint you don’t want them free to roam. If this isn’t an option position yourself so that you are between them and the area you do not want them to reach until their hands are clean. For us that’s the family room ( specifically the new couch)  only a few feet away from the kitchen where we were creating.

2. Tape their paper to a cutting board, or right to the table if the table is easily washable. This prevents the picture covered in paint from hitting the floor and other things on the way down. toddler finger painting tips to avoid mess

3. Dress your child in old clothes/ Pajamas. Little toddlers and smocks don’t really make a great pair. Avoid the dramatics and just let them wear something that you don’t care if it’s stained.

4. Use an old table cloth to protect your table. If you need to protect your floors try a shower curtain under your child’s chair.  happy tips for toddler finger painting

5. Give them control and let them have small dishes of paint to explore with. Toddlers are on the verge of a lot of new independence and giving them some control during activities is a great way to support this development. You don’t need to direct this activity at all!

6. Have extra paper ( and anything else you are using) on hand so you don’t have to leave them unattended for a second. tips for finger painting

7. Have wipes or a wet wash cloth, and a towel ready. Also don’t unbuckle the booster until after they are all the way clean.

8. If they are super messy my favorite trick is to have a big old bath towel ready and wrap them up in it, and go directly to the bath. toddler finger painting

9. After the painting is dry display it with pride! This seems obvious but it’s really important. Children need to their their art to complete the process. They are artists and should be proud of their work!

 

 

Need a great finger paint recipe? Try this one that your child can help make with you in the kitchen! Click on the image to find out how to make it.

rp_easy-finger-paint-recipe-3-455x451.jpg

 

 

Filed Under: Age: Toddlers, Finger Painting, For Parents, Painting | 10 Comments

Like this post? Share it with a friend!

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

math activities for kids
Next Post: Dinosaur Plates – Make Snack Time Fun!
Previous Post: Listen & Erase – Listening and Reading Game For Kids

10 Comments

  1. Gerti says

    May 16, 2015 at 3:47 am

    Or have the baby/ toddler do finger painting in an empty bath- later you can rinse off the baby and the bath+ they cannot escape.

    to Gerti" aria-label='reply to this comment to Gerti'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      May 17, 2015 at 10:55 pm

      That is a great idea for kids who like the tub!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment
  2. Katerina says

    November 7, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    I call “freedom” this kind of activities. Adults have to let kids play. It doesnt matter if they are messy.. They are children and they should enjoy every single moment. Parents should do it also

    to Katerina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Katerina'>reply to this comment
  3. Sam says

    August 8, 2016 at 2:28 pm

    Thank you! I have the paints and the paper and we live in a small condo so i have been very apprehensive to start this sort of activity. These tips have given me the courage to just do it!!

    to Sam" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sam'>reply to this comment
  4. artelixir says

    July 2, 2022 at 4:21 am

    Thank you for sharing fabulous tips.

    to artelixir" aria-label='reply to this comment to artelixir'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Classroom Blog says:
    June 10, 2016 at 4:00 pm

    Toddler Alphabet Blocks Nature

    […] t finger paint recipe? Try this one that your child can help make with you in th […]

    to Classroom Blog" aria-label='reply to this comment to Classroom Blog'>reply to this comment
  2. Summer Colours: Spend Hot Afternoons With These Awesome Finger Painting Ideas | Parenting Website In India,Best Parenting Blog India, Kids Website India,Mommy Bloggers India, Reviews Of Kids Products & Services In India says:
    August 11, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    […] dipping her fingers and creating a masterpiece of her own. Priceless isn't it? Here we give you a few tips and ideas on how to have a stress free finger painting session with your […]

    to Summer Colours: Spend Hot Afternoons With These Awesome Finger Painting Ideas | Parenting Website In India,Best Parenting Blog India, Kids Website India,Mommy Bloggers India, Reviews Of Kids Products & Services In India" aria-label='reply to this comment to Summer Colours: Spend Hot Afternoons With These Awesome Finger Painting Ideas | Parenting Website In India,Best Parenting Blog India, Kids Website India,Mommy Bloggers India, Reviews Of Kids Products & Services In India'>reply to this comment
  3. Activities and resources for children in Nursery to Year 8 – Aspire Learning Centres says:
    April 29, 2020 at 10:02 am

    […] ANIMAL FINGER PAINTING – Get messy with paint to create finger paintings of animals.  […]

    to Activities and resources for children in Nursery to Year 8 – Aspire Learning Centres" aria-label='reply to this comment to Activities and resources for children in Nursery to Year 8 – Aspire Learning Centres'>reply to this comment
  4. 15 Activities To Stay Busy All Winter says:
    December 23, 2020 at 12:21 am

    […] some fun, let’s dive in! It is paint, so let’s be honest there will be a mess so here are some simple tips to make finger painting fun with your little one while not stressing over the […]

    to 15 Activities To Stay Busy All Winter" aria-label='reply to this comment to 15 Activities To Stay Busy All Winter'>reply to this comment
  5. 15 Activities To Stay Busy All Winter | Good Girl Exhale says:
    December 27, 2020 at 6:15 am

    […] some fun, let’s dive in! It is paint, so let’s be honest there will be a mess so here are some simple tips to make finger painting fun with your little one while not stressing over the […]

    to 15 Activities To Stay Busy All Winter | Good Girl Exhale" aria-label='reply to this comment to 15 Activities To Stay Busy All Winter | Good Girl Exhale'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search For Activities

Now In Paperback!

Buy NOW

All Activities

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flash Cards posts directly in your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Copyright © 2008-2023 • No Time For Flash Cards - ACM Media LLC • Site Design by Emily White Designs