Sponge Ghosts

from 24 months · 15-20 min · Fine motor

What you need

Pour a little white paint onto the paper plate and spread it out flat.
Show them how to press the sponge into the paint and then down onto the black paper.
Lift it off to find a ghost, and let them stamp a whole crowd of them.
Once the paint is dry, add two eyes and an open mouth to each ghost with the pen.
Ask them which ghost is the scariest and which is the silliest.

Stamping always gives a shape they can see straight away, and white on black paper looks good however many ghosts they make.

Pressing and lifting: Pressing firmly and lifting straight up is what makes a clear print.
Cause and effect: Each press makes a new ghost, which they can see straight away.
Talking about feelings: Choosing the scary ghost and the silly ghost gives them words for faces and feelings.

Watch whether they press hard or dab lightly, and point out how the prints look different. Both make good ghosts.

Use washable paint and a sponge you are happy to throw away after. Cut a wavy edge along the bottom of the sponge for a ghostly tail if you like.

Easier: stamp one big ghost each and draw on the faces together

Harder: let them draw the faces themselves and give each ghost a name