Parents looking for things to do with kids often turn to simple household items to help entertain their toddlers. Young children who are developing fine and gross motor control, as well as sensory development can get hours of fun from cups, water, rice, shaving cream and paper. Adding some food coloring can bring a new dimension to their play. Here are five ways food coloring can be used to heighten the fun and experience.
Painting and Dabbing
Food coloring can be used by itself, or mixed with water for a bright, safe paint that is easy to use and easy to clean up. Simply add a few drops of different colors to bowls of water, and allow a toddler to dip a paintbrush or cotton ball into the colors to apply to paper. Because food coloring is safe and edible, there is no need to worry about a toddler or small child placing the brush in his mouth while playing. Food coloring also cleans up easily, and a bottle will go a very long way, making this a very inexpensive paint for young artists.
Rainy Day Rice Play
If rain is keeping a busy toddler inside, when she would rather be playing outdoors in a sandbox, try rice play for sensory development. Spread a table cloth on the floor to contain the rice, and lay out bowls, cups and scoops to play with. Before pouring out the rice for the toddler to play with, try dying the rice with a few drops of undiluted food coloring.
Mix well, and spread the rice to dry on a baking sheet before use. The multiple colors can be mixed or kept separate for another dimension to the fun. When the child is done playing, simply pick up the table cloth to catch the rice in the center and pour it into a container for later use.
Add Color to Water Play
Water play is a great activity for toddlers, helping them work on fine and gross motor skills as they transfer water from one container to the next. Add food coloring to the water to provide bright colors that can be mixed. This is a great way to show toddlers that colors can be combined. Try putting out a container of yellow and a container of blue and watch the fun as the child learns that they can be combined to make green.
Shaving Cream Fun
Finger painting on shower walls, shower doors or on a cookie sheet with shaving cream is a great way for toddlers to learn about different textures. Add a few drops of food coloring in different colors, and allow them to swirl the colors in to create designs and shapes.
For extra gross motor development, put the shaving cream and food coloring into a plastic bag and allow the toddler to pummel and knead the bag to distribute the color.
Spray Art
Put water and food coloring into a spray bottle, and tape large pieces of paper or cloth to a wall and let the child spray the colors onto the surface. Have them experiment with getting closer and further away as they spray to watch the patterns change, creating star bursts and fine mists of color. This is great activity to do outside on a hot day, as the water may drip and run off the paper.
While food coloring does wipe up fairly easily, it can stain some surfaces, so be sure to protect clothing, counters and floors with smocks and newsprint before beginning the fun. Many multi-color packages of food coloring will have tips for combining and creating different colors, so experiment with creating different shades and saturations to keep the experience fresh and try some toddler fun with food coloring today.
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