We’ve still been getting some beautiful weather lately, so I figured we’d take full advantage and bring the mess outside! This week, we rolled out the giant paper and got into some colorful finger painting. It was such a fun way to let the kids get creative—plus, cleanup was a breeze with the garden hose!
Sensory activities like finger painting aren’t just fun.
They’re also great for child development! They help improve fine motor skills, support cognitive growth, and encourage creative expression. Painting outdoors also adds an extra layer of sensory experience through sunlight, breeze, and outdoor textures.
What you will need
- Giant paper pad or butcher paper like this giant paper pad on amazon Or a roll of butcher paper or art easel paper like this art easel paper.
- Washable finger paints. You can use my recipe for a fluffy soapy finger paint here makes for easy clean up. Or buy some here on amazon.
- Rocks or tape to hold down the paper. Rocks work better if you’re on concrete.
- Swimsuits or old clothes
Set-Up for a Successful (and Easy) Painting Day
To keep things simple (and cleanup even simpler), I used a giant paper pad right on our back patio. I squirted washable finger paints directly onto the paper—no bowls, trays, or mess to deal with afterward. The kids had plenty of room to move around and explore the colors with their hands. Since we were outside, they wore swimsuits, and when the painting fun was over, I just rinsed them off with the garden hose!
Helpful Tips:
- Keep a couple of towels nearby for quick drying.
- Have some wipes on hand in case you have a little one who doesn’t like messy hands or wants clean fingers between colors.
Finger painting outside was such a fun, low-stress way to enjoy the last bit of warm weather with my kids. They had a blast being creative, and I loved not having to worry about the mess. If you’re looking for a quick and easy activity that sparks joy and creativity, this one is definitely worth trying!
Check out more fun craft ideas here.
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