Baby Food Finger Painting
Here's What To Do
Find a safe surface to do this activity, like the kitchen table or outside on your patio; cover the surface with plastic or newspaper if the surface requires protection. Get a bib ready for your baby.
Buy or make a few pureed foods with bright colors, such as pureed beets, carrots, berries, or spinach. These will be edible paints. Put the purees in plastic bowls or cups.
Provide paper large enough for your child to create marks with the edible paint (secure the paper by taping it down to the surface).
Help your child dip their hands in the puree "paints." Help them make marks and stamps on the paper and let them experiment.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- This could be messy, so smile, laugh, and use a calm tone with your child as you prepare to do this activity together.
Engage:
- Hold your child and dip their hands in the purees. Help them stamp a handprint on the page.
- Show your child how to make lines and other shapes with the edible paint. Encourage them to copy you.
Encourage:
- Your child may eat the paint and this is okay! That’s why you’re working with edible paint.
- Your child may play in the paint and create a big blob of all the colors. They are learning how to experiment with paint, and this is part of the process.
Reflect:
- Did your child like this activity? Were they comfortable with a messy medium to make marks? If you do this again, what will you do differently?
Not quite ready?
If your child doesn't want to join in and paint, model painting for them.
Ready for more?
Give your child safe tools to dip in the edible paints to make marks (children’s paintbrushes, big spoon, etc.)
As your child masters this skill...
They will experiment with different ways to make marks on paper.