Brush or Fingers?

Exploring with paint is fun regardless of the tools

Watercolor paint is best for the first paint experiences as washing up will definitely be needed.

Children as young as 18 months or so can begin to enjoy paint.

• Experience textures and movement of the paint

• Try creating different shapes

• Learn about color mixing

• Discover the difference between using fingers or brush

When starting out, keep it simple. It’s fine to start with just one color so children can experience the textures and learn procedures.

If using brushes, teach care of brushes and demonstrate how to rinse brushes. I prefer to sit down and “paint” alongside the children describing what I’m doing and why. Then let them explore what you’ve provided.

After single colors, I prefer to offer two primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and let children discover color mixing. Offer different colors the next session so more color mixing can be discovered.

When you feel children are ready, provide all three primary colors.

“Painting” doesn’t have to involve paint. When the weather is good, provide buckets of water and large paint brushes and let kids paint the house or the fence or the sidewalk. You get the idea.