Finger paint, create.

Finger painting is a great, creative sensory play activity. Have fun mark making with your fingers, hands and some paint and use your senses to explore colour and texture.

What you need:

• Non-toxic, washable paint
• Paint pot, or a washed recycled plastic container (for mixing paint in)
• Paint brush
• Pieces of paper and/or card
• Newspaper, or a wipeable plastic cloth etc., to cover work surface
• A cloth, or bowl of warm, soapy water and a towel, for cleaning fingers

What to do:

Explore mark making with your fingers.

1. Cover a surface with newspaper, or a wipeable plastic cloth. Place a piece of paper/card on top of the newspaper/cloth.

2. Choose the coloured paints that you want to use. Pour some of each coloured paint into a paint pot or clean, recycled food tray.

3. Choose which colour of paint you want to use first. Dip your finger into the paint and use your finger to make marks (paint) on the piece of paper/card. Explore different ways of making marks e.g. take your fingers for a walk across the paper, make swirly patterns.

Top tips:

• Remember not all the spaces need to be filled.
• Try putting the paint onto your finger with a paint brush. Does this make mark making with your fingers easier, better?

4. Wipe, or wash, your finger clean and dip it into a different coloured paint. Use it to make more marks on your piece of paper/card. Try mixing the different colours of paint on your paper/card together with your fingers. What happens?

5. When you have finished exploring how to mark make with your fingers, get another piece of paper/card and have fun creating some more finger painting art.

6. Display your art on the wall, or fridge, or use it to make inexpensive personalized greetings cards.

Activity also develops:

• Fine-motor skills by strengthening finger and hand muscles
• Expressive skills
• Language skills

Sensory Issues: Some kids, and adults, may experience tactile sensory issues working with some materials like paint (my son hates touching cotton wool and I dislike the feel of clay). Let them know that it is okay. Continue to provide opportunities to access the trigger materials but do not make them use them. If tactile sensory issues become a concern, then seek professional advice.

Other posts you might like: Paint Print Repeating Patterns

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