Wet Hand Prints
What you need
- a shallow tray with a little water
How to do it
- On a dry day, put a shallow tray with a little water on the ground outside.
- Dip your hand in and press it flat on a dry paving slab. Show them the print.
- Help them dip and press their own hand next to yours.
- Watch the prints slowly fade, then make some more.
Why it matters
A hand print that appears and then vanishes is a mark they made, and making it again is half the fun.
What they're learning
- Making a mark
- Pressing a wet hand down leaves a print that's theirs.
- Cause and effect
- Dip, press, print: the same thing every time.
- Noticing change
- Watching the print fade away is a small thing to wonder at.
What to look for
Notice them pressing harder or flatter to make the print bigger.
A tip
Use only a centimetre or two of water and stay within arm's reach the whole time.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: dip a sponge and squeeze it onto the slab instead
Harder: make a trail of hand prints, or try a foot print too
More like this
Browse
Sensory activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Activities for 18 month olds · Toddler activities with a tray · Toddler water activities