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Play recipe

Outdoor Water Painting

Age1–5 years
Time15–30 min
MessSome mess
EnergyLow energy
SettingOutdoor
Outdoor Water Painting

You'll need

  • Bucket of water
  • Large paintbrushes
  • Fence, sidewalk, or deck

Steps

  1. 1Dip brush in water
  2. 2Paint on fence, sidewalk, or rocks
  3. 3Watch designs appear and disappear
  4. 4Keep painting as it evaporates

Why this works

Painting with plain water lets kids make big, bold strokes with nothing to clean up, and watching the marks fade as they dry keeps them painting the same spot over and over.

Try also

  • Practice writing letters
  • Draw pictures before they fade
  • Use different sized brushes

Supervise around water. Sun protection if hot.

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