Finger Painting - The French Alternative

Homemade finger paint can be a lifesaver when the kids are bored. The paint is simple to make and you'll probably have most of the ingredients in the pantry.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornflour
• 1 litre water
• 1 cup soap flakes (optional)
• a few drops of edible food colouring
• a few drops of Dettol, eucalyptus or tea tree oil (optional)

Method

1. Put the cornflour into a saucepan.
2. Add about 2 tablespoons of the water and mix to a smooth paste.
3. Add the rest of the water, turn on the heat and then stir the mixture until it starts to thicken. (Tip: for a smoother, better result, add soap flakes. This will also stop the kids eating the paint.)
4. Pour into separate containers and add a different food colouring to each container.
5. To store, put the lids on containers and keep in the fridge for two or three days. If you want to keep the paint any longer add up to two drops of Dettol, eucalyptus or tea tree oil, but having done that, don't allow the kids to eat the paint.

Further reading

Jackie French's article featuring this recipe for finger paint, along with other fun things to make for kids, is in the February 2000 edition of Burke's Backyard Magazine.

Copyright CTC Productions 2000