As soon as I found out about salt painting for kids, I knew we must try it. It’s a fun activity that does not require numerous, weird supplies you don’t have at home. It’s easy to set up, and quick to do and the results are beyond beautiful.
Supplies
- Salt
- White glue
- Watercolours
- Paintbrushed
- Card paper (black or white)
Tips for salt painting:
- Make sure you’re using thick card paper. Simple paper might not hold the weight of glue and salt.
- You can use food colouring instead of watercolours. Simply fill a glass with water and food colouring, I prefer using water colours, only because we have a set with a variety of colours.
- I prefer to use watercolours once the glue and salt have dried and become harder, rather than painting on a wet, slimy substance. However, you can experiment and see what works for you.
- Don’t use too much water when painting with watercolours, just whatever is necessary.
Can you use sugar instead of salt for salt painting?
Yes, you can! Unless you’re teaching your children about salt’s ability to absorb moisture from the environment and want to combine art and science together, there’s no reason you can’t use sugar. Keep in mind that salt is slightly cheaper than sugar and less tempting for the little ones to start a tasting session, so that might be another reason parents choose to use salt.
How long does salt painting take to dry?
It can take a day or even two to dry.
Instructions
1. Plan your salt painting:
Let your children think beforehand about what they’re going to draw. You can draw with a pencil first, print a template, or just use the glue straight away.
2. Add glue:
Start your salt painting by tracing over the template with glue, if you’re not using a template then just grab the glue and start designing.
3. Sprinkle salt:
Sprinkle salt while the glue is still wet.
4. Remove excess salt:
You can remove the excess salt by gently shaking the card or blowing it off.
5. Colour the salt:
Wait for the glue and salt to dry up a bit and then use watercolours to colour the salt.
6. Let your salt painting dry!
Voila! Your painting is done, now just let it dry.
What do you think?