Colorful Sand Painting

[25 Minutes]

Together with your child, color some sand and try this unique art form.

You'll need:

• 3 - 4 cups of white playground sand • food coloring • plastic containers • plastic spoons • cardboard • paper plates or newspaper • glue • crayons or markers

What to do:

1. Divide the sand into 4 containers.
2. Put 3 - 5 drops of food coloring into one of the containers.
3. Invite your child to stir it around. You could put on the lid and let your child shake it until the color is evenly distributed.
4. Help your child do the same thing with the other colors.
5. Offer him the cardboard and crayon or marker and encourage him to draw a picture.
6. Then put glue over the sections of the picture that will be one color and help him to sprinkle on the colored sand.
7. Shake the extra sand onto a paper plate or piece of newspaper.
8. Encourage your child to continue gluing and shaking sand on the different parts of the picture. Set it aside to dry.
9. When dry, invite him to feel how hard the sand art has become.
10. At another time, you might want to use the sand to make a picture with your child's name or to make the numbers from 1 to 10.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• How did the sand feel after it dried on the picture?
• Which color is the brightest?
• Which color is your favorite?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop small muscle skills and eye/hand coordination.