In the next PLAY Live we will be exploring mark making and a great material to use for this is paint.

If you don’t have paint at home don’t worry you can easily make paint with simple ingredients.

Below are two different recipes which are great for babies and toddlers who like to put everything in their mouths – with these recipes that’s OK. Babies and toddlers explore the world through their mouths so it’s great to have a paint option where you don’t have to stop them. 

Recipe 1

For this paint all you will need is: 

1 cup of flour

1 cup of water

1 tbs salt 

Food colouring 

Add the flour to a bowl, add the water a bit at a time to avoid lumps. Add the salt. Then add whatever colour food colouring you have.  

If you want to make different colours then split your mixture into different pots before you add the food colouring. You could use yoghurt pots, jam jars, tupperware boxes, muffin tins… whatever you have… 

Recipe 2

For this paint all you will need is:

A tub of Greek or natural yoghurt.

Berries, bananas, kiwi (or any other fruit with a bit of colour) 

Mash up or liquidise your choice of fruit. Add a 2 tablespoons of yoghurt into a bowl and mix with 2 teaspoons of your mashed up fruit.
If you want to make different colours then split your yoghurt into different pots before you add the fruit. You could use yoghurt pots, jam jars, tupperware boxes, muffin tins… whatever you have…

For the colours pictured above we used:
Purple = blueberries

Pink = raspberries

Green = kiwi fruit

Yellow = banana
If you want a stronger colour you can add a drop or two of food colouring.

Before you start painting make sure you put down a wipeable cloth or covering as the food colouring might stain. You and your children should wear old clothes too to avoid any staining. 

You can use paint brushes, if you have them, but you don’t actually need them. Younger children will prefer to use their hands and fingers. Try and embrace the mess and allow them to explore the paint however they like.  You could introduce different tools to make marks the could include forks, sponges, potato mashers, bubble wrap…. anything you can find around the house….

If you have any other paint recipes feel free to share.