Tips for getting your toddler interested in painting -- 6 things you can use instead of a painting brush

Quick, easy and cheap ways to get your toddler interested in painting and art.

Painting is probably one of the first activities you will do with your child. Once you start with finger painting, there's no looking back. There's something about little babies, colours and messy painting that is uber cute. Also, painting is a great way to jumpstart their imagination and introduce a new texture. To make painting a little more exciting and creative for your toddler, think of using different props for painting. Give the good ol' painting brush a break, spread out a huge plastic sheet, get some colouring paper and use the following things to paint with!

1. Tin foil: Want something firm and bulky that the little fingers can hold? Roll up a piece of tin foil and voila! You have a silver ball you can paint with. Use a thick consistency paint spread in a wide pallette and let your tot have fun.
2. Pom poms: Pom poms come in handy when trying to improve your toddler's pincer grip. Pom poms also make for a good way to paint and practice strokes. The patterns pom poms make are beautiful with lots of texture and you will have a great art to hang up on the wall.
3. Cotton/ sponge: Painting with a sponge is my favourite one, and my daughter's too! I have cut a big piece of sponge in different shapes (flowers, animals, etc.) and we can spend hours painting a sheep purple or multi-coloured cake. Then we use the sponge to transfer the paint to paper. Sponge is great to use, it is soft, pliable and doesn't soak up too much of paint.
4. Bubble wrap: Honestly, painting with a bubble wrap is a little addictive. I wrap a piece of bubble wrap on a rolling pin, brush different colours on the wrap and roll it on paper. What you get is a beautiful pattern that looks no less than artwork fit enough to hang in a gallery!
5. Toothbrush: The most fuss-free, easiest and fun-nest of all. You can draw teeth on the paper and ask your tot to 'brush' the teeth with coloured toothpaste.
6. Toy cars: Have you noticed that the wheels of the toy cars have beautiful pattern on it? Splatter some paint on paper and run the car through it, letting the wheels leave beautiful imprint on the paper.

Keeping your toddler occupied and creatively engaged does not always require expensive toys. A little imagination, creativity and willingness to participate in an activity will go a long way in creating happy memories for your child.

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