Ghost Footprints
What you need
- a sheet of black paper
- white paint and a dab of black paint
- a chunky paintbrush
- a damp cloth
How to do it
- Lay the black paper on the floor and sit your toddler on your lap beside it with bare feet.
- Brush white paint over the sole of one foot while they watch, saying "tickle, tickle".
- Hold both their hands, help them stand, and press that foot flat on the paper, then lift it straight up.
- Wipe the foot with the damp cloth before it touches the floor, then do the other foot.
- Turn the paper round so the heels are at the top: each footprint is a little ghost. Add two fingertip dots of black paint for eyes.
Why it matters
Cold, tickly paint on a bare foot is a big sensory surprise, and standing still to press a foot down asks for balance while you hold their hands.
What they're learning
- Balance
- Standing on one foot for a moment while you hold their hands is a small, safe balance challenge.
- Body awareness
- Feeling the brush on the sole and then seeing the print it makes joins up their feet with what they can see.
- Sensory confidence
- Getting messy on purpose, with you right there, helps them feel at ease with new textures.
What to look for
Watch their face as the brush touches their foot: a giggle, curled toes or a pull away. Painted feet are slippery, so hold both hands the whole time they stand.
A tip
Use washable, non-toxic paint and keep the damp cloth right beside the paper so each foot is wiped before it steps off.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: paint one foot only and press it down for them while they sit on your lap
Harder: make a row of ghost footprints walking across the paper, one step at a time
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