Paint With Water

On a hot summer day children have so much fun painting with water! Here is how I like to set up the activity:

• small pails with handles (they can be found in the party favor section of a store)

• paint brushes (I get a pack from the dollar store.)

• A 1/2 gallon or gallon jug filled with water to fill up the buckets.

My instructions to the children are: “Use the water to paint tree trunks, logs and rocks. Carry your bucket with you.”

The children have so much fun doing this from ages 2 to 10!

Benefits from this activity:

• bi-lateral integration - As the child hold the bucket in one hand, he or she reaches with the other hand to dip the brush into the water. This will then help the child be more coordinated in other 2 handed tasks.

• grasp development - Painting on a vertical surfaces is such a great way to develop a functional grasp. This will help with holding crayons and pencils.

• cooperative play - Children painting with water together in a group will often start a pretend painting business, or something else related.

• control of movement - Children have to be careful to not spill the bucket of water while moving. Also, they have to control the water as they pour it into their bucket.