From Stephanie Brown,
Your Guide to Babies & Toddlers.
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Painting is always a fun activity for toddlers. Early on, they learn about texture by using their hands, and later on they can master fine motor control when you introduce a brush. If you find you don't always have paint on hand, here are a few recipes, many made with items you probably already have on hand.

Finger Paint (uncooked)

What you need:
1/2 cup liquid starch
1/2 cup soap powder
5/8 cup water

What to do:
Beat together until the consistency of whipped potatoes

Finger Paint (cooked)

What you need:
2 cups flour
4 cups cold water
food coloring or dry tempera

What to do:
Mix flour and water and cook over low heat until thick
Cool
Add a pinch of salt
Add dry tempera or food coloring, if desired
Store in covered jar in refrigerator

Soap Paint

What you need:
Warm water
3 cups detergent flakes
food coloring

What to do:
Add water, a little at a time, to detergent flakes
Mix to consistency of heavy cream
Color with small amount of food coloring

Kool-Aid Finger Paint

What you need:
2 cups flour
2 packs unsweented Kool-Aid
1/2 cup salt
3 cups boiling water
3 T. oil

What to do:
Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

Jell-O Finger Paint

What you need:
Any kind of flavored Jell-O
hot water

What to do:
Mix enough hot water, just a little at a time, until mix has the consistency of finger paint. Allow to cool before play.

Puffy Paint

What you need:
Flour
Salt
Water
Food coloring

What to do:
Mix equal amounts of flour, salt and water.
Add food coloring for color.
Pour mixture into squeeze bottles and paint.
Mixture will harden in a puffy shape.

Salt Paint

What you need:
1/8 C. liquid starch
1/8 C. water
Food coloring

What to do:
Mix together and apply to paper with a brush.
Keep stirring mixture. Paint will crystallize as it dries.

Pudding Paint

What you need:
Instant Vanilla Pudding
Food Coloring

What to do:
Mix pudding according to directions.
Add food coloring for desired color.