How to Make Print Designs With Potatoes

Kids and paint are a great yet sometimes messy combination. Instead of giving your children free reign with paper and paint, making a print design may help you prevent some of the clean up, and help your kids practice patterns at the same time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Potatoes
• Knife
• Paint
• Pie tins
• Paper

1. Select a few large, uncooked potatoes and cut them in half.
2. Into the inner side of the potato, you as the adult should cut a simple shape or letter. Make as many shapes and letter as you want, keeping in mind you won’t want to use them after a few days as they will start to go bad.
3. Spread a tarp over the surface where you will be painting to protect the surface. Lay out your paper you will be using and a bowl of water.
4. Pour different colored paints into your pie tins and put them with your other supplies.
5. Show your child how to gently press the potato (cut side first) into the paint and then firmly press it onto the paper to create a print. Let them practice a bit.
6. Show them how to clean the potato in water to change colors or before changing potatoes.
7. Set them free to create their own print designs.

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