Provides a tactile experience.
Add any of the following to tempera paint to give texture:
sawdust, salt, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds
Plastic mesh bags (the kind onions come in)
Foam, old nylons, or fabric scraps
Paint
Old Sponges
Paper
Make mesh daubers by filling mesh squares with foam, old nylons, etc. Tie off with string or rubber bands. Spread thin coat of paint on top of old sponges to make "ink pad". Press the dauber onto the paint covered sponge. Print
with the daubers on paper.
Use spring type clothespins pinched to the sponge for sponge painting.
Put a bit of thin, watery paint on a piece of paper (a white paper plate is good for this). And have your child blow it around with a straw. Add a second or third color if you wish. Talk about what happens when the colors mix.
Provide a tub of scraps of various colors of tissue paper next to paints. Tissue can be stuck to wet paintings; it will stick, even when dry. For different themes, tissue paper can be pre-cut into a variety of shapes.
Fly swatters dipped paint filled styrofoam meat tray - leaves a lovely patterned effect on the paper when the children hit it, & the children really love this activity. Use washable paint & do it outside.
Paint
Die-cast cars such as Hot Wheels
Paper
Cover your table with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth. It is easy to draw off the paper in this project.
Place a small amount of paint on the child's paper. You may want to give your child several spots of paint in different colors.
Using the car, have your child "drive" the car all over the paper. While running, the tires through the paint, he will create "car tracks". Blending the paints together. Have the child continue with his design until finished with his masterpiece. Dry.
Cut into small pieces and let them dip on paint and then press on paper. Use large sheets of bubble wrap on a table and the kids can paint the whole sheet together and then lift prints. Hang bubble wrap on easel for children to paint and then press paper on for print.
Place one drop of food coloring on the end of a Q-tip. Allow them to dry from 30 - 60 minutes. I use a pegboard to hold the cotton swabs upright as I drop the coloring on the end and it also allows them to dry quickly. ( I usually make a box of Q-tips at a time and store the extras in Zip-Locks for later). When ready to paint all you need are smocks, paper, and a bowl of water. Dip the end with the color in water briefly (less time in the water -- the brighter the color) and let your imagination run wild.
How can I make an easy costume?