How to Make Textured Finger Paint

Texture can make finger paints more exciting.

Finger painting is usually the first exposure that children have to creating art. As such, it serves as an important lesson not only in self-expression, but also in observing texture and the world around them. The kinds of finger paint your child uses don't have to be limited by what you can buy at the average craft store. By working with everyday materials and mixing creatively, you can create the perfect textured finger paint to teach your child about the sense of touch at the same time she learns how to paint.

Things You'll Need

• Sand, salt, coffee grounds, baking soda, cornmeal, or any gritty, non-toxic child-safe substance
• Finger paints
• Paper

Instructions

1. Choose the best texture for your project. Your needs will be different if you are helping your child to paint an authentic beach than if you want to help her paint a textured turtle.

2. Select the substance that best represents that texture. You can choose from a variety of household items, making sure that they are safe for children to handle and, in the worst-case scenario, ingest. Such items might include sand, salt, coffee grounds, baking soda or cornmeal.

3. Measure out your materials. Place equal amounts of paint and the textured substance in different containers. For the average finger-painting project, start with one-quarter cup of each.

4. Blend your materials together. With one hand, take the cup of the textured substance and slowly pour it into the paint, stirring it in as you go. After you have completely emptied it into the paint, keep stirring until the two products are fully blended.

5. Repeat the process with other colors of paint or other textures as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to point out the new texture to your child. Unexpected changes can be jarring for young children, so he should know that this paint is different from what he's used to before he uses it.

• Use a textured substance with grains too small for children to choke on.

References

• Preschool Rainbow: Senses -- Sense of Touch