Why finger painting is good for kids – and it doesn’t have to be messy!
Website design By BotEap.comKids love them, they love sticky things. I love to put my hands in it, I love to put my toes in it, sometimes I even love to throw it. They really come to life when there are colorful, gooey things around.
Website design By BotEap.comBut sadly, children’s enjoyment is often accompanied, or even exceeded, by their parents’ abject terror of the sticky substance. The new curtains! The cream colored carpet! The Persian carpet!
Website design By BotEap.comWhich is a shame, because finger painting has been shown to benefit children’s development in important ways:
Website design By BotEap.comStimulates the senses.
Website design By BotEap.comFinger painting is an activity that involves almost all the senses. Bright and bold colors to thrill the eyes, the satisfying squishy feel of paints between the fingers, the pleasant squeaky sound when little hands dip into the pots.
Website design By BotEap.comStimulating children’s senses is essential for the healthy development of their young brains. Experiencing different textures and colors helps inspire creativity, and using your fingers to draw pictures is a great way to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Website design By BotEap.comHelp children express themselves.
Website design By BotEap.comFinger painting has been around for centuries, but was established in its modern form in the 1930s by Ruth Faison Shaw, the “First Lady of Finger Painting.” She was one of the first to recognize its therapeutic potential and was hailed as a “pioneer in progressive education.”
Website design By BotEap.comAt a time when many thought children should be seen and not heard, she viewed finger painting as an important way for children to communicate their unspoken words and feelings. The instinctive nature of finger painting, he said, “helps the imagination and gives the pleasure of creating things subconsciously, things that one may not have even seen or dreamed of before.”
Website design By BotEap.comHere’s why it doesn’t have to be messy
Website design By BotEap.comYou already know the benefits of finger painting for kids, but there is still one thing stopping you. The mess. But I promise you, it really doesn’t have to be complicated.
Website design By BotEap.comPerhaps the most obvious reason why it is not because (weather permitting) it can be done outdoors. Children love the combination of being outside and doing something creative. And they won’t be able to do much damage out there. A cloth-wiped children’s apron will cover their clothing, and you can place an old tablecloth or sheet to protect the surface they are painting on.
Website design By BotEap.comBut the main reason finger painting doesn’t have to be complicated is that many finger paints are completely washable. All you need is a cloth and some soapy water and the paint will rub off. Which means that no matter how hard they try, their children will never be able to cause any harm. No stains, no need to worry.
Website design By BotEap.comBut don’t take my word for it. Sometimes you just need to try these things for yourself. Finger painting is one of the simplest and least expensive activities for children. It’s brilliant fun, it helps children learn and grow, and it’s something you can enjoy with them. So no more fear, roll up your sleeves (and theirs) and give it a try.