Make Bathtub Paint

What You Need:

• 1/3 cup baby shampoo per paint color
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch per paint color
• Food coloring
• Measuring cups, tablespoon, and stirring spoon
• Plastic cups
• Cotton swabs (optional, for use as paint “brushes”)

What You Do:

1. Have your child measure out and pour the baby shampoo into a plastic cup.
2. Next, ask them to add the cornstarch into the same cup and stir until the ingredients are mixed.
3. Help them carefully squeeze two drops of food coloring into the shampoo mixture and stir again.
4. Discuss with your child the science behind what happened to the mixture when they added the cornstarch. Cornstarch caused the shampoo to thicken up, which helps it stick to smooth surfaces (like a bathtub) better.
5. Repeat steps 1-3 three more times to create other colors of paint. Place each color in its own plastic cup. This is a great opportunity to talk about color mixing with your child. Show them how you can mix primary colors together to create new colors.
6. During bath time, encourage your child to paint on the walls of the bathtub using their new paints. They can fingerpaint, or use the cotton swabs as paint “brushes.” Be sure to supervise while they paint so that they don't get paint in their eyes, which can sting.
7. When bath time is over, help them clean the walls of the bathtub with a washcloth. This activity gives you clean tub walls and a clean child!