How to Make a Straw Painting With Kids

A fun, beautiful and creative type of painting fascinating for preschoolers up to perhaps third or fourth graders is straw painting. It doesn't take much to combine gorgeous colors that blend together as they form spidery lines. And it's the process itself that's so fun.

Things You'll Need

• Watercolor paint (in small bottle)
• Watercolor paper (at least standard paper size)
• One straw per child
• Teaspoon (optional)
• Tissue or coffee filter (optional)

Instructions

How to Make a Straw Painting With Kids

1. Drip a little watercolor paint, any color, on the paper. Use a teaspoon if it's easier. A bright primary color such as red, yellow or blue works well.

2. Drip your second color on another spot on the paper. Then dab your third on yet another spot.

3. Take the straw and show your child how to blow a color so the paint spreads out, usually forming one or more thin lines across the paper. Do the same with the other colors.

4. Notice where the colors meet and point out how the colors mix to make new colors at certain points (blue + yellow = green, etc.) The child may wish to keep blowing at the colors to see how the design changes.

5. Let the paper dry when the child is done. Before drying, if you wish, lay a tissue gently over any part of the painting, then lift it up. Notice the beautiful way the tissue (coffee filters work too) absorbs the colors.