If your little ones are anything like mine,they love to paint.

I’m pretty convinced it’s just because Momma hates the mess so much!

I have a mess-free solution for your little painters!

We were pretty lucky to have our summer nanny back for winter break and, bless her heart, she let the kiddos paint daily.

They loved it!

The other day, I needed an activity that would keep my 2-year-old busy so Momma could get some work done.  I knew painting would do the trick, but I was looking for something she could do on her own without making a mess.

Mess-free Painting

What You Need

1. Colored construction Paper
2. Cotton Swab
3. Water

It’s perfect! She gets to feel like she’s painting and there is virtually no mess! She did dump the water cup the first time we tried, but it takes so little water it really isn’t a big deal.

My little guy got a kick out of it too.  It would be a really fun way to practice shapes and letters.

We’ll definitely be using this as a go-to activity, and I think I may try a few things to switch it up.

Other ‘Painting’ Ideas

1. Sponge shapes
2. Different sized brushes
3. Cotton balls
4. Pipe cleaners (bent into shapes, letters, or numbers)
5. Car tracks
6. Animal footprints

Do you paint with your little ones?  How do you keep the mess to a minimum?

What are your creative painting solutions?