Toddlers love painting. They like to take color pens and draw on walls or any flat surface. Sometimes they even dip their little fingers into paint and color their surroundings and themselves. It can all get messy all too quickly. That doesn’t mean we have to stop them. Painting and drawing helps a toddler develop their mind. Their brain starts to develop by creating neural paths and connections when they engage in creative activities such as painting. Painting also works as a way to express their emotions and thoughts. Besides it also helps in the development of motor and sensory skills. So the best option is to find a solution so painting doesn’t get messy. Well you are in luck there are various ways you can let your toddler explore their artistic side without leaving a huge mess. Now we will discuss them.
Ziploc Bag Painting
With this method you will be able to contain your toddler who is too excited with paints. Your child can now enjoy painting without spilling and smearing. To set it up firstly put a piece of paper in a ziploc bag. Then put a few drops of washable paint on the paper. After that seal the bag so no air is inside of the bag. Lastly, stick the bag on a flat surface with the help of tapes. Now your toddlers can squish the paint inside the bag without getting his fingers messy. They can mix the paint inside of the bag and spread them with ease. This way they get to experience something new while keeping everything clean.
Water Painting
It’s a simple trick. All you need is water and a surface that will show a different color when you pour water on it. It can be any type of surface. You can choose chalkboard or a concrete floor. Now let your toddler make the surface wet with a paint brush or sponge. In essence it’s painting with water. This leaves no mess as when the water dries up it will be back to the dry surface. It can be a great outdoor activity for kids.
Sticker and Tape Resist Art
You can let your toddler create some creative arts through this process. Toddlers love stickers they can put them to use and create something fun. Firstly take a piece of paper where kids will paint. You can use either painter’s tape or stickers to cover the paper to create a pattern or shape that your toddler will paint. Now let your toddler use a paint brush or sponge to smudge paint over the covered paper. After he is done with painting you can remove the stickers or the tapes to reveal the pattern he has created. This way it not only promotes less mess but also your toddler can learn new concepts such as layering and contrasting.
Paint with Cotton Swab
It is a great way to minimize the amount of paint your toddler uses. Instead of a sponge or paintbrush give your toddler some cotton swabs. Cotton swabs also have upsides since they are thin so toddlers can hold them properly. Provide your child with a piece of paper to paint on and some paint in a small cup. Now you have to show him to gently dip the cotton swab into the cup and make nice dots and strokes on the paper. This way toddlers get to learn about different patterns and keep mess at a minimal level.
Bubble Wrap Painting
Even adults love bubble wrap as they are fun to pop. So toddlers will have a great experience exploring something new and interesting. Firstly set the bubble wrap in your toddler’s hand or something he can hold onto. Now put some paint on a tray. Let your toddler put the bubble wrap into the tray to dip it with paint and then press it on the paper to create colorful patterns. This method keeps mess to a minimal level by using very little paint.
There are various ways such as using washable paints, covering surfaces with paper and using a dedicated painting apron for your toddler to reduce mess. It’s also important to supervise your toddler when they engage in painting to ensure their safety. Now keeping messes away you can let your toddler explore with the joy of paints.
