Children of all ages love to paint with their fingers. Who needs a paint brush when your body comes equipped with useful digits and palms? This can be a pretty messy endeavor but now that summer is here it is also a great outdoor activity.

Finger paint can be purchased at the store but children will love to find out that they can make their own. Plus they are all simple ingredients that you most likely have in your kitchen right now. And it requires no cooking so they can do it all themselves. Here is how you make your own finger paint:

1 cup of water
1 cup of flour
2 teaspoons of salt
food coloring

Mix the water, flour, and salt in a medium sized bowl (or bigger if your child is a messy mixer) until everything is well combined. It will pretty thick but with no lumps. Distribute the recipe equally into smaller bowls. Add food coloring to each for the desired color. Let your child mix the colors and see what color it turns into. Stir until the color is even in the paint.

Dress your child in a paint smock or old t-shirt and provide them with a big piece of paper. You may need to show them what to do if they have never finger painted before. Children can make handprints, shapes, and practice their letters.

I have found that this activity is a perfect complement to pool time in the backyard. I dress my daughter in her swimsuit and let her have fun painting on the patio. Sometimes she has more fun painting herself rather than the paper. Then once she is done it is off to the kiddie pool to rinse off and play some more. Cleaning up the patio is a breeze with the garden hose and the mess stays out of my house.

Have you ever made your own finger paint? What are some of your favorite finger painting activities? The best part is the artwork that graces your refrigerator afterward.

Warmly,
Mia