Car Paint Tracks
What you need
- a long sheet of paper or the back of some wrapping paper
- masking tape
- washable paint in two colours
- two paper plates
- two or three toy cars
How to do it
- Tape the paper flat to the floor and put a little paint on each plate.
- Drive a toy car through one plate of paint, then along the paper, and show them the track it leaves.
- Hand them a car and let them drive it through the paint and all over the paper.
- Swap to the other colour and look at where the two tracks cross.
- Leave the paper to dry and stick it on the wall.
Why it matters
Driving a car is something they already love, and the paint shows them exactly where it has been.
What they're learning
- Pushing and steering
- Pressing down and pushing a car along takes both strength and aim.
- Making marks
- The wheels leave a line they made themselves, which is the start of drawing.
- Naming colours
- Two colours of track give you lots of chances to say blue and yellow.
What to look for
Watch whether they follow the track they already made or go off in a new direction. Both are their own idea.
A tip
Use washable paint and wipe the wheels after. Cars too big to fit through a toilet roll tube are the safest choice.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: drive the car together with your hand over theirs
Harder: add a toy animal and let them walk its feet through the paint next to the car tracks
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