How to Make Finger Paint for Kids Without Cooking

Let your kids get messy and creative using homemade finger paint.

Homemade finger paint is easy to make with a few simple ingredients and it's a great way to help your kids express their creativity. Although most homemade finger paints are prepared by heating or cooking, you can make non-cook paint using flour or soap. Food-based finger paints are usually edible -- as long as they are made with only edible ingredients -- making them a safer option for your child than many store-bought finger paints.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Bowl
• Food coloring
• Or
• 1 tablespoon soap powder
• 1/4 cup liquid starch
• 1/2 cup of water
• Blender
• 1 pound powdered Tempura paint
• Or
• 2 cups cold milk
• 4-ounce package of instant chocolate pudding and pie filling
• Bowl
• Electric mixer

Instructions

Flour Paint

1. Combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of salt in a small bowl. You may also use baby rice cereal, instant pudding or cooked cereals, instead of flour.

2. Mix the ingredients together until they form a thick paste. Use a spoon or an electric mixer on a low setting.

3. Gradually stir food coloring into the flour mixture until you achieve the desired color.

Soap Paint

1. Add 1 tablespoon of soap powder, 1/4 cup of liquid starch and 1/2 cup of water into a blender.

2. Cover and turn on the blender using a low setting. When you are sure the mixture is not flowing over, remove the entire cover or the small center knob, if present.

3. Gradually add powdered Tempura paint to the soap mixture. Add paint until the color is as desired.

4. Blend until the mixture is smooth and the color is uniform.

5. Store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Paint

1. Pour 2 cups of cold milk and one 4-ounce package of instant chocolate pudding and pie filling into a bowl.

2. Mix the ingredients together using an electric mixer at low speed for two minutes.

3. Let the mixture set until it thickens.

4. Let your kids paint on a white paper for best results. Pudding paint takes several hours to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the painting surface with a waterproof covering. Also dress your kids with old clothes that are allowed to get messy, in case the color leaves a stain. On a nice day, paint outside on the lawn.

References

• Pre K Central: Finger Paints
• Kids Cooking Activities: Finger Paint Recipes