Squish Bag Painting

What you need

• a large zip bag
• a sheet of paper cut to fit inside
• washable paint in two or three colours
• masking tape

How to do it

1. Slide the paper into the bag and squeeze a few blobs of paint on top of it.
2. Press the air out, seal the bag and tape all four edges down flat on a tray or the floor.
3. Show them how to press a blob with one finger and watch it spread.
4. Let them squish, pat and drag the paint all over the paper through the bag.
5. Name the new colours as the blobs run into each other.

Why it matters

They get all the squish of finger painting without paint on their hands, so it suits a toddler who is not keen on mess.

What they're learning

Pressing and patting

Squashing the paint through the bag works the fingers and the whole hand.

Cause and effect

Every press moves the paint, which they see straight away.

Noticing colours

Watching two colours turn into a new one is a chance to name them both.

What to look for

Watch whether they use one finger, a flat hand or both hands. Each one moves the paint in a different way.

A tip

Tape every edge so the bag can't be opened or lifted to a mouth, and check the seal before you hand it over.

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