Kids love to get messy! What better way to let them get that out of their systems than with a little finger painting?

Conventional, store bought finger paints are full of polysyllabic mystery ingredients like mannitol, polyethylene glycol, and sodium benzoate. Some also contain mineral oil, a petroleum product. Rather than letting those kiddos get that stuff all over their hands, clothes, and faces, you can whip up a batch of finger paint in the kitchen! It’s cheaper, easier, and you know exactly what your kids are getting themselves into.

Recipe
1 cup cornstarch
3 cups water
food coloring

In a saucepan, boil the 3 cups of water. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl dissolve your cornstarch in just a bit of water. Remove your saucepan from the heat, and dissolve the cornstarch mixture in the hot water. Bring the mixture back to a boil and cook it until it’s thick and clear. Divide your fingerpaint into separate small containers and let it cool before mixing in your food coloring.

Dyes
There are a couple of eco-friendly options to color your finger paint. If you’re feeling super crafty, it’s much cheaper to make your own dyes. Eco Child’s Play has some great recipes for dyes. If you’re not into making your own, check out these natural, gluten-free, plant-based food colorings from Seelect!

Source: GO Media - Written by Becky Striepe - Image Credits: Finger Painting. Creative Commons photo by spooky05