Multisensory teaching materials can be helpful tools for learning disabled children in special education programs or regular classrooms. This finger paint recipe makes a great multisensory material for preschoolers and students in early elementary school. This recipe makes it easy for an adult to make a small batch of multisensory paint for home or a larger batch for classrooms.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Make Homemade Finger Paint Gel with this Easy Recipe in 15 minutes - Prepare a Day Ahead
Here's How:
- Gather the Following Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Cornstarch
- ½ Cup Sugar
- 4 Cups Water
- Food Coloring, liquid drops or gel colors. (Gel colors are available in the cake and frosting section of your grocery.)
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Containers for Paint, one for each color you plan to make (Wide-mouth baby food jars or other similar-sized containers work well.)
- Sticks for stirring, one for each container (ice cream sticks or small spoons work well.)
- Pour the water in the saucepan, and carefully mix in the cornstarch and sugar, while whisking continuously over medium heat.
- Continue cooking over medium heat until the mixture begins to gel.
- Pour or spoon the gel into the containers, leaving about a one inch gap at the top of each jar. Add food coloring and mix thoroughly.
- Place lids on the containers and refrigerate to cool. When ready, the finger paints will be the consistency of a thin gelatin desert. The intensity of the colors depends on the amount of food coloring you use. It is best to keep the colors light because too much coloring can stain the children's fingers.
- Allow the finger paints to warm a bit before use to keep little fingers from getting too cold. Wash hands after use, and have children wear smocks to prevent staining on clothing. Although the ingredients are edible, it is recommended that children not be permitted to eat it.
- Using finger paints as a multisensory teaching tool is a great way to introduce color concepts, shapes, alphabet letters, sight words, and free-form art work.
