How to teach your child to use finger paints for drawing. What are the best finger paints for children? How to paint with finger paints

Just a few decades ago there was no such thing as finger paints. As children, we only painted with a brush, or at most with a cotton swab and other objects. The modern stationery industry offers us finger paints - interesting, exciting, and most importantly - safe!

The benefits of finger paints

Today people draw with paints from a very early age, even up to one year. This is not surprising, every mother wants to develop her child, to cultivate an aesthetic principle in him. Introducing creativity is a long journey, but it should not be limited by age. Already in infancy, a child can find favorite colors and draw strange shapes and pictures. It is very interesting to mix colors with each other and get extraordinary shades.

In addition to artistic education, finger painting is a training in fine motor skills. And this, in turn, gives a powerful impetus to the development of the child’s speech.

Drawing is also a whole bunch of positive thoughts and emotions. It’s rare that a child will remain indifferent to such a fun pastime. Drawing teaches many hyperactive children to be attentive, focused, and diligent. In addition, finger paints are very easy to wash and clean, which makes their use even more convenient and practical.

How to choose finger paints

The first criterion for choosing finger paints is their safety. After all, kids often put their hands in their mouths, right with the paint. This should not discourage parents from using this product. Before purchasing, carefully read the composition of the paints. Only natural ingredients should be indicated there - flour, salt, starch, food coloring. The paint must be water-based. Due to the fact that all paint components are natural, the shelf life of this product is very short. When purchasing paint, make sure that it has not expired.

You shouldn’t immediately take a large palette of colors. Before first use, buy 4-5 bright shades that your child will like. After all, it’s important to introduce the child first, what if he doesn’t like it? Considering that paints deteriorate quickly, there is no need to throw money down the drain.

When choosing paint, pay attention to the consistency of the liquid. The paint should be fluid and moderately thick. Buy paint from large and trusted manufacturers.

How to prepare for drawing

This is perhaps the main question that worries many parents. The cleanliness of the room after drawing, as well as the parents’ interest in repeating the experiment, depend on the degree of preparation.

To begin, choose a place where the drawing will take place. It is better to always draw in the same place so that later the child does not go beyond the designated boundaries. This could be a table or a corner on the floor. If you paint on the floor, remove the carpets and rugs, you can cover them with oilcloth. It is also better to cover a sofa and other upholstered furniture with oilcloth. The best canvas for drawing is what paper or large sheets of A3 format. Ordinary album leaves will probably not be enough for your child’s creativity to fly.

Before drawing, put on clothes for yourself and your baby that you don’t mind. The paints are easy to clean, but being on the safe side never hurt anyone. If it’s warm at home, you can leave the baby in panties or a diaper - it will be easier to wash. You can also buy a special waterproof apron in art stores that will protect you from paint.

When everything is ready, you can begin the drawing process itself.

1. Dip your finger in the paint and show your child that it is absolutely safe. Run your finger across the paper.
2. If the child is interested, dip his finger and also run it over the paper.
3. After that, let your child take the initiative - let him choose the right paint and make a few strokes.
4. Don’t forget to repeat the names of the flowers - this way your child will remember them better.
5. When the child becomes thoroughly familiar with colors, you can draw certain pictures. Show your child how to draw a sun. Let it be a simple yellow blot at the top of the Whatman paper - praise the child and his creativity.
6. Young children can successfully draw rain or snow. You need to draw a cloud and show how to put your finger and say “Drip-drip.” Drawing such blue rain will be very exciting.
7. You can try out all the colors by drawing a rainbow. Just move your hand along the same path, alternately dipping your fingers in different colors.
8. You can make a bouquet from palm prints. To do this, wet your palm in one paint and make an imprint of this palm on paper. Repeat the prints in other colors in the same way. Then add stems and leaves to the improvised palms, you will get a charming bouquet.
9. Make a hand and foot print of your child as a keepsake. Subsequently, this picture can be dried and stored for many years to come. You can also make an imprint as the child grows - you can see firsthand how quickly and intensively your baby is growing.
10. After painting, dry the painting and hang it in a visible place. The child will be proud of his creativity. This is also a wonderful gift for a grandma or grandpa from a little toddler. Show the painting to your dad in the evening so that he will definitely praise his young artist.

You can make your own finger paints by mixing water, oil and flour to form a thick mixture. You can use saturated vegetable and fruit juices as a coloring pigment. And in order to discourage a child from trying paint, a large amount of salt is added to it.

Finger paints are an opportunity for a child to express their emotions and feelings. Give your child creative freedom - let him draw!

Video: how to paint with finger paints

Finger paints are an excellent tool for children's creativity that any child will enjoy. Such paints are sold in most children's goods stores, but you can even make them yourself.

There are many drawing techniques, although most children prefer to use their own imagination. All finger dyes must have an ideal composition without harmful components, because kids can even taste them.

The benefits of finger paints

Finger painting has many advantages. Using the material from an early age (up to a year or later) helps ensure the harmonious development of the child. Drawing for children is a fascinating process through which they learn about the world, and do this with the help of visual perception and tactile (sensory) sensations.

The main advantage of using finger-type paints is their complete safety for the child’s body.

A child touches the material with his hands and can smear his face and body with it, so the composition of the pigments should be harmless.

• Other advantages of the method:
• the paints do not flow, but lie beautifully on the surface, allowing you to create original drawings;
• you can use paints on a wide variety of materials: pictures look great on paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, fabric, tiles, ceramics and even on your own body;
• no expensive drawing equipment is needed - the child only needs a minimal set;
• for children aged 1 year or a little younger, holding pencils and felt-tip pens is very difficult, but anyone can draw with a finger or palm;
• Making pictures with such colors will also be interesting for older children - even those who do not know how to draw at all can easily learn through the game.

Why do most psychologists recommend activities with finger paints, and what beneficial effect do they have on the child? Some fathers and mothers mistakenly think that children in the first year of life do not understand anything, so drawing will be pointless.

For a child, the use of finger colors serves the purpose of obtaining pleasure and learning something new and unknown. During the process, new neural connections are created in the central nervous system, so the child begins to develop faster.

Useful qualities of paints:

• development of fine motor skills;
• acceleration of the formation of the nervous system;
• stimulation of the motor and thinking centers;
• improved mental health, reduced risk of psychological problems in the future;
• alignment of the emotional background.

Drawing helps calm a child if he is overexcited, and the use of bright colors activates those children who are too calm and phlegmatic from birth. Regular drawing lessons bring even greater benefits and affect the development of the child as an individual:

1. Artistic taste. If you engage in creativity with your child from an early age, the child will better understand the world around him with its colors and will be able to “transfer” what he sees to paper.
2. Perception of colors. Using finger painting, the child will learn to combine colors, obtain different shades and see their diversity. Such children usually already know all the colors from the second or third year of life.

Age of first use of paints

At what age can you use finger paints? If the paints indicate that the material is not intended for children under three years of age, you should not buy them for your child: the composition contains components that are undesirable for ingestion.

Manufacturers often add bitter substances to finger colors, because this is a non-food product and cannot be consumed in large quantities. All paints for children under 3 years of age can be used without any special age restrictions. The main thing is that parents can ensure control over the drawing process and not lose sight of the child.

It is best to wait until the baby can sit independently and shows an active interest in drawing. This usually happens at 9–10 months, although some children can practice finger painting as early as six months. Manufacturers indicate the age from one year as recommended for the use of such products, based on reasonable restrictions and the real hobbies of most children.

Types and composition of paints

Good paints that can be used by a child at home consist of extremely simple ingredients: water, binders to create a thick base, pigments. The mass always remains thick, but not hard, unless you leave it without a lid. To easily remove color from the surface, juices and plant extracts, for example, aloe juice, can be added to it. The box should indicate that these paints are intended for finger painting (simple gouache is not suitable for this purpose).

Main types:

• gel - include special moisture-retaining substances, have a transparent texture, do not dry out the skin, and can be used by the smallest children;
• sensory - after drying, the picture will be rough, since special components are added to the material;
• fluorescent - after drying, the coloring will glow in the dark, further developing the child’s imagination.

Finger products for babies are usually sold in small sets - from 4 colors (red, yellow, blue, white). Such sets are suitable for the youngest children; for an older child it is recommended to buy a larger set (12 tones), with included stamps, stencils, and other devices. With their help you can color pictures with great interest.

The most famous manufacturers of finger colors:

1. Jovi. A Spanish brand that produces high-quality paints that are sold all over the world. The colors are bright, the price is reasonable.
2. Djeco. Created in France, suitable for children under one year old. Many kits include plastic stencils that attach to the lids of the jars. Even wooden toys and boxes can be painted with these paints.
3. Crayola. American products, safe, very bright. The paints are easy to wash off and are of the highest quality. The downside is the higher price.
4. Ses. Dutch paints intended for allergy sufferers. They do not contain any components that can cause allergic reactions in children.

Among Russian manufacturers, Kalyaka-Malyaka, Luch, Orange Elephant, Tsvetik, Molly, and Trolls have proven themselves well.

Finger painting - organizing the process

How to paint with finger paints and keep the room clean? It is better to choose one place for classes so that the child gets used to it and then does not go beyond the boundaries. A table or a corner on the floor will work well. Carpets and paths must be removed or covered with oilcloth. You should protect the sofa, bed, and other furniture that is nearby.

It is better to draw for the first time on white paper - A3 sheets, whatman paper, but A4 sheets should be abandoned because of their small size. Clothing should be loose, but easy to wash. You can even start the process in just panties and diapers, and then wash the baby in the bathroom. Older children should be given a special apron for classes.

How to thin the paints if necessary? For this purpose, ordinary water is suitable, which must be prepared for classes.

Child training

At the first lesson, it is important to show the child what the paints are for. You need to dip your finger in the color and run it over the paper - this way the child will understand that drawing is interesting and safe. When the baby becomes interested, you need to take his finger and repeat the manipulation. Afterwards, it’s worth giving the initiative into his hands: the child himself will choose the desired tone and draw on paper. Parents can only control the work and name the colors more often - this way the baby will quickly remember them.

You can draw a picture after a few lessons. First, mom or dad show the child how to do this, choosing the simplest option (for example, the sun). Children are good at drawing grass, snow, rain, clouds. By drawing a rainbow you can get acquainted with all the colors at once.

As you grow older, you can use various drawing techniques:

1. Handprints. You need to dip your palm in the paint, apply it to the paper, making an imprint. Next, you can make a flower from such prints, draw a line with green paint, and make handprints in the form of leaves on it.
2. Leg marks. By smearing your child’s feet with finger colors, you can get original prints. In the future, they will help to find out how quickly the baby’s leg grows.
3. Drawing with a sponge, sponge. An ordinary sponge absorbs paint well and is easy to wring out, so it can be used in creativity.
4. Prints, stencils. The additional accessories included in the set also help to create different shapes and pictures. Stamps, rollers, and entire stencil boards are often on sale.
5. Passepartout. After painting the picture, ready-made applications made of colored paper are glued onto it. For example, you can make a drawing of grass and flowers, and place two adult figures next to it and a third one for a child.
6. Mixing tones. Even four colors in the set are enough to create various new shades, and the technique of combining paints should definitely be shown to your child. Instead of a palette, you can use the baby’s palm directly.
7. Coloring crafts. Using finger colors you can paint cubes and patterns - this will be interesting for children and adults.

After finishing painting, you need to dry the painting. You can hang it on the wall - let your child be proud of the work.

Making your own paints

Finger paints are sold everywhere, but you can make them yourself. There are several recipes that use only available products.

From starch

Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, ½ cup of starch, 300 ml of water. Add any food coloring to the paint or divide the mixture into parts and paint with different colors. Next, you need to heat the paint over low heat until the mixture reaches the consistency of sour cream. The pigments you can use are those used to color eggs. It is allowed to use vegetable and fruit juices (for example, beets), but in this case they are introduced after the mass has cooled.

From flour

Mix 500 g of flour, 3 tablespoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Next, water is added until a “sour cream” texture is obtained, pigments are added after pouring into jars.

From shaving foam

Squeeze out a little shaving foam, add a small amount of gouache and honey watercolor. Homemade finger paints are ready. You can store them in jars of baby fruit and vegetable purees.

It is advisable that the finger colors are not pale - children do not like such colors, they are less interesting. It is better not to save on purchases and purchase only the highest quality paints, taking into account the shelf life, lack of toxicity and the reputation of the manufacturer.

On most finger paints it is written that the recommended age for their use is from two years, on the rest - from three. But it seems to me that children can and should be taught earlier. We started finger painting at 10 months, and I think that's not too early. If drawing brings pleasure to the child and his parents, then why not start drawing when you want?

What you should pay attention to when choosing finger paints

Finger paint

• The paint must be as safe as possible for the child . Do not contain harmful substances, be environmentally friendly, so that even if it gets into the baby’s mouth, nothing bad will happen (I mean if the child licks his finger and does not eat a jar of paint :) So before purchasing, it would be a good idea to check for paint quality certificates;

• Don't buy too many flowers . Often, four colors are sold in packages, which will be enough for the first time. Do not overload your child with unnecessary information and the desire to try everything at once;

• It’s very good to paint with those colors which you and your child are currently studying . For example, we draw with them. We have fun and at the same time consolidate the material we have covered. You can even dedicate an entire day to a specific color. Look for toys of this color with your child, ask him to bring colored cubes, dishes, and decorative elements. Of course, we will also paint with this color;

• Best to draw on whatman paper . Landscape sheets of A4 format may be too small for your child’s creative flight, therefore, stock up on “canvases” for your artist in advance so that nothing can interfere with your joint creativity;

• Be prepared for the fact that when the child gets the taste for drawing, paint will be everywhere : on him, on you, on the floor or table, furniture and carpets, so it would be nice to take care of how to wash it all later. For me, the best option turned out to be drawing on the floor. I cover the area given over to the artist’s studio with oilcloth and don’t worry about cleaning it later :)

What do you need for creativity?

• Piece of whatman paper
• Finger paint
• Oilcloth to cover the floor
• Your good mood

Finger paints are very easy to make yourself. To clearly demonstrate to you finger paint making process(and also: do-it-yourself modeling materials and colored cereals), I recorded a video :)

If you want to receive the video by email, enter your coordinates in the form below - and I will try send you the video as soon as possible, and - detailed step-by-step PDF instructions making all developmental materials with your own hands.

I have deep respect for all my readers, so your data will never be passed on to third parties and you will never receive spam, I guarantee.

So, fill in the information in the form and receive videos of preparing all educational materials today :):

First lesson

The first lesson is very important and responsible. It depends on him whether your child will like drawing, and in what atmosphere the classes will take place later. Therefore, the main rule: start your artistic work only in a good mood as a creator! The child should be inclined to creativity and new discoveries.

So, to begin with preparing the workplace (you need to think in advance where and how you will create, on what canvas, and in what clothes). We lay down oilcloth, and whatman paper on top of it, change clothes, take out paints, prepare wet wipes and hurray - you can start creating!

In this article I will tell you how we got acquainted with finger paints, what you can paint with paints, and at what age you can use them.

Let's start with why we bought the finger paints. I am constantly looking for ways to develop a baby, especially now when the first speech skills are being formed. Finger painting develops hand motor skills, and the development of fine motor skills is directly related to speech. It is not without reason that they say that children need to do thumb exercises, make circular, rotational movements - this affects the development of speech. Also, painting with finger paints gives a clearer perception of specific colors. And finally, the method of using such paints has a positive effect on the emotional state of the child and his overall development.

At what age can you use finger paints?

The paints are completely harmless and therefore can be used by children under three years of age. Some mothers begin to use them as early as three months of age in order to hurry up the development of their baby. Honestly, it seems to me a comfortable age to start using paints, when the child is at least sitting on his own, sit him next to him and talk calmly, show him the world of colors. Regarding “calmly”, I, of course, got excited, because small children are very fidgety and simply cannot sit still calmly, so in the process of drawing it is impossible to avoid traces of paint everywhere.

A few tips before you start drawing: Prepare a large Whatman paper and create more space around the child. Remove the carpets, position yourself away from the sofa so as not to get dirty, dress your child and yourself in something you don’t mind getting dirty. I'm glad that the paints wash off well.

What can you paint with finger paints? ANDhow to use?

The most common thing is to make prints of the baby’s hands and feet.

We prepared the paints, no water is required, we added a drop of each paint, commented on the process, this is red paint, this is yellow, blue, etc. Then you take the child’s pen and smear the whole thing on the paper, the baby likes it. Then you make handprints in two or three copies and after that you give it to your beloved grandmother, sign it and put it in a photo album and everyone is happy.

In addition, you can make stencils, for example, print or draw a flower, leaf or Christmas tree and cut out the middle, then put the stencil on the place where the child smeared the paint and comment with delight “Oh, what a wonderful Christmas tree we have!” After all, the main thing is to create the mood in your creation :) (example attached)

At an older age, when the child begins to speak, after you pretend to be holding hands with him or simply smearing a piece of paper, ask the child the question, what did we do? who did we draw? Let the child imagine, maybe he will see a bird, a house, a mother)

And when you get acquainted with paints, you can ask your child, what paint do you like best or what color are you in the mood for today?

And here is our creativity))

It's difficult to find a child who doesn't like to draw. The kids are convinced that there is no better activity. How to draw becomes clear the moment a child’s hand gets used to holding a pencil, a felt-tip pen and, a little later, a brush.

Draw to your heart's content!

But what about toddlers who have just learned to sit, let alone fine motor skills? At this age, the first experiments with mother’s cosmetics begin, which, it turns out, leave very impressive imprints. And jam or vegetable puree spreads surprisingly well, forming excellent marks.

An alternative to much-needed household items are finger paints for children. They are easy to use. Such paints serve as the basis for all kinds of painting options. So, the baby can make prints with his palm. This produces the effect of a kind of massage and has a beneficial effect on the development of motor skills.

Gradually, you can offer your child a choice of additional application methods. For example, with special stamps and stencils it is easy to create an applique-style design. And with the help of a piece of foam sponge you can depict clouds, snow and similar natural phenomena.

The child will most likely show his parents how to paint with finger paints himself, since his natural curiosity will tell him the answer. Otherwise, the example can be demonstrated to adults. The principle of these paints is simple - wet something and leave an imprint.

Precautionary measures

Often, when first meeting a new object, a toddler immediately puts it in his mouth. This happens in most cases with paints. In this way, the child learns the properties of an unknown element. Finger paints certified with a quality mark are harmless. The composition, as a rule, includes food coloring, preservatives and water, so their traces can be washed off without much difficulty. If a child decides to taste them while painting, he will most likely be disappointed with the result of his idea, since manufacturers deliberately add a safe, bitter substance to finger paints so that children, having tried it once, do not want to try again. But this is not a reason to leave the child unattended during such an activity.

Kinds

Today on store shelves you can find the following types of paints:

• finger ones (usually in small jars with the appropriate inscription, with the main color palette);
• gouache (paint has greater density and intensity of pigment);
• watercolor (allows you to create light and transparent shades).

Home production

Many parents, to be completely sure of the child’s safety or to save money, prepare paints themselves. Everything you need can be found in almost any kitchen. For preparation, the following ingredients are required: half a kilogram of flour, about 5 tablespoons of fine salt, 1.5-2 tablespoons of butter, enough water so that the mixture looks like thick sour cream. The resulting solution must be brought to complete homogeneity and poured into previously prepared containers with lids. Then pigment is added to each jar. This could be natural juice from vegetables or food coloring. After that, the containers filled with paints need to be vigorously shaken. Homemade finger paints are ready!

Preparing for the creative process

So, the material for creativity is available, there are also ideas, all that remains is to prepare the artist himself. Today in stationery stores or children's goods stores you can find a special apron and sleeves designed for labor lessons. If a child has been using finger paints for over a year, then suitable clothes that can be easily washed will be sufficient. When the baby is ready for the creative process, you need to lay out the paper. You can use sheets of whatman paper, but if there are remnants of wallpaper in the house that are no longer useful for repairs, then you can draw on their back side. It is convenient to organize the process directly on the floor, especially if the child is very small. And the best thing is to join the baby and create a family picture together, while receiving a lot of positive emotions.

It is better to place finger paints in a palette or shallow container, from where they can be easily applied to the palm or sponge. You should have napkins or paper towels on hand.

In addition to the usual material for drawing, you can use fabric, and then fix it on a wooden frame and frame it. Then you will get a real picture.

How and where to draw?

Children can be offered even the most unusual at first glance options for creativity. This effectively develops the child's imagination. For example, it’s fun to diversify the bathing process by drawing on the tiles. Finger paints will still be washed off, but the impression and delight will remain in the memory for a long time. Of course, it is important to clearly explain to the child where this can be done and where it is strictly forbidden.

For toddlers just learning creative skills, the usual type of industrial or home-produced paints will suit them. As a rule, the whole process comes down to mixing different colors into one spot or smearing a single-color paint on a sheet. But there is no need to rush and demand results. The baby will definitely please his parents with his skills; now he is just learning to control his hands. Any action is worth praise, because this is the only way to instill in a child a love for the process, and then for achieving results.

What else can you add to drawing?

In the period of 12-18 months, you can expand your artistic arsenal with gouache. The dense texture of the paint will require a lot of effort, but it will surprise you with new possibilities when mastering how to paint with finger paints. After a couple of years, you can try all kinds of tools to create a drawing: brushes, spatulas, stencils.

When the child's hand is ready to hold and control the brush, you can start using watercolors. With it you can create shades, learn how to make color transitions, and adjust the intensity of paint application. Watercolor develops a sense of artistic taste and helps to focus on elusive lines.

Age characteristics

Finger paints provide so many opportunities for creativity. The recommended age for a child to start working with products, according to manufacturers, should be 3 years or older. However, in practice there are no real reasons for such restrictions. Of course, it doesn't hurt to be attentive while your child is using finger paints.

Where are such materials used?

Recently, early childhood development has become relevant. Modern children already have a wider intellectual potential than previous generations. A significant contribution to the current state of affairs is made by teaching methods that stimulate the development of a child from the first months of his life.

One of the tools often used in classes is finger paints. Reviews from parents, as a rule, indicate the effectiveness of such work. Children of any age become calmer, learn to concentrate on the details of a drawing, develop their imagination and successfully realize their creative potential. Such an activity will save them from boredom, since the variety of application options offered is difficult to fully use. Creativity has no boundaries, knows no barriers.