2 July - Toothbrush painting...

Hi there. It's Sumari from EasyHealthyKids.com, and this week we have easy, low prep and low cost activities to teach your kids fine motor skills and creativity (without making too much of a mess).

We've got painting with toothbrushes, sensory play and more.

The family: Fred is a headstrong 3.5 year old toddler boy, and Sarah is my sweet 1.5 year old baby girl.

Art activity - Painting with toothbrushes

I love to use different mediums with paint, so this toothbrush painting really caught my eye. This activity uses your child's imagination, fine motor skills and patience, and is suited for all ages.

They can paint with the toothbrush, make patterns, and spray the paint with the brush.

Supplies needed:

• Toothbrushes
• Paint
• Paper shapes, letters or other objects to use to paint on

Quiet time activity - Straw play

My daughter loves to transfer items and add it to other items. This straw play quiet time activity is great for kids who love transportation.

You just need a few bottles, and a stash of straws for this activity. Let your kids transport and play with the straws any way they choose.

Supplies needed:

• 2 empty bottles
• Pack of straws

Indoor activity - Tape towers

This Tape Towers activity is a fun way to play with blocks, by adding a tape height challenge.

You stick a few vertical lines of tape on a wall and let your kids build block towers until they reach the end of the line.

Supplies needed:

• Blocks
• Tape

Outdoor activity - Pouring Station

I like low cost, low prep activities like this pouring station.

You just need a few pouring jugs, small containers and bottles to pour into. You don't have to buy anything (except for food coloring if you don't have it on hand) for this activity.

"There’s nothing better than a pouring station. It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s basically free and it’s can keep a toddler entertained for so long." - busytoddler.com

Educational activity - Q-tips and straws

Here's another fun activity that will fine-tune your kid's fine motor skills.

Give them colored q-tips and straw pieces, and let them thread away.

You don't have to dye the q-tips if you don't want to, but dyeing them adds fun color matching to this activity.

Supplies needed:

• 1 pack q-tips
• 1 pack straws

Sensory activity - Muddy pigs

This muddy pigs sensory painting is anything but messy - everything is contained in a plastic bag!

For younger children or kids who would like to open the bag, you can tape it sealed until ready to use.

Supplies needed :

• Shaving foam
• Pigs Printable (supplied in article)
• Brown paint
• Plastic bags

Do you have any great recipes or fun activities that you want to share? Let me know by replying to this email.

Talk to you next week.

Sumari

EasyHealthyKids.com

P.S. If you try any of these activities or recipes, let me know! I'd love to hear how you found them.