On the Go Finger Painting

For the fun of finger painting without the mess, simply squirt some paint in a sturdy Ziploc bag and seal it tight. Lay it on a flat surface and let your kids draw pictures in the paint through the bag. You just need to make sure your kids are either too young to open the bag or old enough to know not to do it!

Water Painting

This is simply a variation on Abby's previous post about the spray bottles. Sydney doesn't know how to use one yet, so I gave her some paint brushes and a bucket of water and let her go to town on the patio, the rocks, the ants, etc. while I get some yard work done. She loves it, there is absolutely no mess to clean up since the water just evaporates, and I get to hear her running around yelling, "I paintin'!"

What's better than water?

This idea has saved me when I just need a few minutes. To finish dinner, make a phone call, or just eat a candybar in peace. Cheap, dollar store spray bottles. Fill 'em up with water, hand one to each of the kids and send them into the back yard. They spray the sidewalk, their bikes, each other, and love it.

Another one for kids is to put them in an empty bathtub with a pile of shaving creme and some kid paint brushes. Make sure they don't have clothes on that can't get stained though. After they paint everything, including themselves, let 'em wash it back off with a bucket of water. This will keep my girls entertained for honestly an hour and a half. It's how I pack for trips!