The Power of Parenting

Sunday, 15 November 2020

Precious Prints

Age Range: 19 months to 5 years

Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy the squishy sensation of paint and will enjoy smearing it and making designs with their hands and fingers. Here is a way to preserve many of your child's creations. Cherishing your child's art work is a good way to Comfort, Play with & Teach™ them.

 

You will need:
  • a plastic tray or cookie sheet
  • finger paint
  • large pieces of paper
  • a smock to protect your child's clothing

 

 

Instructions:
Pour some paint onto the tray, and encourage your child to smear the paint with their hands, making broad circles or sweeping motions, or use their fingers to make designs in the paint like dots, lines, circles or spirals. Children who are able to can even print their own name! When they are satisfied with the pattern they have created, press a piece of paper onto the paint, then peel it back. You will be able to preserve many of your child's creations this way.

 

Enjoy this more with Comfort, Play & Teach™:

Comfort: The smooth sensation of finger paint is very calming for some children. They will enjoy repeating the activity again and again! Consider playing some soothing music in the background to enhance their creativity.

Play: Children can discover the capabilities of their arms, hands and fingers by manipulating the paint, and observing the changing patterns that emerge. They will be interested in the variety that they can produce.

Teach: By making prints, your child will learn something interesting about creating 'mirror images' of their work. Use two colours so your child learns what happens when blue and yellow or red and white are combined!