Crafts and Activities for Babies Using Tempera Paint
Painting offers babies an opportunity to explore the world in a sensory way. A baby may enjoy the feeling of paint squishing between his fingers and sliding across the paper. Other babies may dislike the texture of the paint and resist activities that require touching it. Provide painting experiences that allow the baby to touch and interact with the paint as much, or as little, as she chooses. Remember to always use washable, nontoxic paint with babies, and take care that the paint is not ingested.
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Salad Spinner Art
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A coffee filter can become a canvas for abstract painting. Place a coffee filter in the base of the salad spinner. Hold the bottle and invite the baby to squeeze a few drops of liquid tempera paint onto the coffee filter. Hand the lid to the baby, and let her put the lid back on. Help the baby turn the handle to rotate the salad spinner. When she tires of cranking the handle, remove the lid and take out the coffee filter. The baby may be surprised that the coffee filter is now painted with a colorful, abstract design.
Dish Scrubber Painting
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A dish scrubber with a plastic handle makes a useful painting tool. Show the baby how to hold the dish scrubber by the plastic handle. Help the baby dip the scrubbing end into a bowl of paint. Gently move the baby's arm back and forth across the paper to paint. Allow her to use the dish scrubber to stamp the paper rather than spreading the paint if she chooses. When the picture has dried, tape a piece of colored construction paper to the back for a framed effect.
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Newspaper Painting
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Crumple newspaper into a ball. Give the baby a large sheet of newspaper and help him crumple it into a ball. Help the baby dip the newspaper ball into a bowl of paint. Guide the baby's hand to a large sheet of paper, and help him press the newspaper ball onto the paper. Repeat several times, using a different a newspaper ball for each paint color. Use the painted paper as homemade gift wrap, as suggested by Family Education. (See Reference 1)
Roller Art
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Reuse empty deodorant bottles as paint rollers. Turn empty deodorant bottles into painting tools, as recommended by Family Play and Learn. (See Reference 2) Wash and dry the deodorant bottles before filling them with liquid tempera paint. Turn the dial at the bottom of the bottle so that the roller is near the top of the bottle. Tape a piece of paper to a table. Help the baby hold the deodorant bottle and roll it across the paper to paint. Replace the cap if you plan to use the bottle again within a week; otherwise, pour excess paint back into the bottle of liquid tempera.
No-Mess Sponge Painting
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Cut sponges into shapes before dipping them into paint. Toddler Toddler suggests a no-mess sponge painting activity for babies. (See Reference 3) Slip a piece of paper inside a gallon-sized, re-sealable bag. Cut a sponge into pieces of a variety of shapes and sizes. Dip each sponge into a different color, and put them inside the bag. Zip the bag closed, and secure it with tape if needed. Let the baby press on the sponges through the bag to paint. When she has finished, remove the paper from the bag and let it dry.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Kleiner Künstler image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com coffee filter art image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com red brush image by Ivan Hafizov from Fotolia.com newspaper image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com man's solid deodorant image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com Sponges image by kasiap from Fotolia.com
