Does all baby play have to be messy to be meaningful? Of course not! Here is a great activity to do with your little one that is mess free. Plus, you get a keepsake out of it! What could be better than that?
Materials
- Cardstock
- Galloon size plastic zipper seal bag
- Scissors
- Washable finger paint (2 or 3 different colors)
- Tape or glue (optional)
Assembly
- Place the cardstock inside the plastic bag, make sure it fits completely, and you are able to seal the bag. I had to cut my cardstock down to get it to fit.
- With the cardstock inside the plastic bag, add 2 to 3 different colors of paint to the bag. I used washable finger paint because that’s what I had on hand. To ensure that the finished product has paint all over, I pour lines of paint across the paper in the bag.
- Close the bag tightly. For added measure, you can also tape or glue the bag shut. Now you are ready!
Time to Paint
This can be a tummy time activity, a high chair activity, a supported sitter, or an independent sitter activity. You can tape the bag to the play mat or high chair tray while your child squishes, presses, and pats on the paints. Otherwise, you can let baby hold and manipulate the bag freely during this time.
If this is new to baby, you might have to model for them how to do this activity or even do hand over hand modeling. Encourage baby to press, and squish the paint all over the paper. Let them rub their hands up and down the bag. Encourage them to shake and pat the bag.
Once baby is all done with this mess free activity, carefully free the paper from the plastic bag. I usually have to cut the bag fully open to remove the paper without ripping it. Let the paper dry.
##Keepsake Tip##
I recommend writing the date and activity name on the back. I also laminate all Riley’s artwork as well. I have used Riley’s artwork to make cards for whenever she needs to send out a thank you for a gift, that way the card recipient can have a little keepsake of Riley’s own making. If you plan on making it as a card like I did, cut out a piece of the artwork to match the dimensions of the front of the card. Tape or glue the artwork onto the front and be sure to make a note inside the card about the artwork.
Riley's experience
We have done this activity in her high chair, during tummy time, and as a supported sitter activity. This time, however, I taped the paint bags to her climbing mats because she is always climbing, sliding, and rolling around on them. I thought this would be a great way to mix it up and allow her to also work her gross motor skills. She did exactly as I expected. She climbed up on top of the bags and slide back down them. She also pulled them up from the mat (they weren’t the most securely taped on) and moved them around to different heights. She would shake the bag and pat the paint. She squished and crumpled the bags as well. I don’t mind if she chooses to crumple the bags because it is her art and her creative expression. All in all, paint in bag was a success again!
Age Range
This is a great activity to do with babies as young as 4 months to babies as old as 18 months.
Benefits
- Gross motor development: Whether this is a tummy time, sitting, or a climbing activity, it requires full body strength to lift, support, move, and hold oneself up while interacting and engaging in the activity.
- Fine motor development: This activity works the hand and finger muscles as baby squishes, presses, pats, holds, crinkles, and shakes the bag.
- Cognitive development: Sensory play promotes an increase in neural pathways. This activity promotes cause and effect because as your child presses and squishes the paint in the bag, the paint moves and spreads in response.
- Language development: Introduce your child to new vocabulary by narrating their experience. Every time they squish, say squish. If they crinkle, say crinkle.
Happy painting!
##Links to materials ##
