Finger painting: the handprint tree

Finger painting is fun and messy, and young kids can really express their creativity, even if their painting skills are not fully developed yet. Using their hands to feel the paint makes it a tactile and sensory experience as well as a visual one.  

We've had two other blogs in this series, if you've missed them, they are here:  The Hungry Caterpillar and A Colorful Rainbow, check them out.

The handprint tree can be made into many variations by experimenting with colors and themes.

What your child learns: 

This DIY could be a nice way to teach your child about different seasons and how we know the seasonal change by the leaves changing colors and their blooming and wilting. 

Here are the steps of how your child can make a handprint tree using the fingerprint technique.

How to finger paint seasonal trees?

You will need–

• Paper or charts
• Non-toxic kid-safe paint– red, orange, yellow, and green

Steps:

Use a pencil to trace your child’s hand and arm (encourage your child to trace themselves)

Paint the traced arm brown

Alternatively, use red, orange, and yellow to dot around the hand, making it look like a tree.

You can make seasonal trees, like pink, white, and a lighter shade of pink (mix pink and white) for spring. For winter, use blue, white, and light blue (mix white and blue). For summer, use green and dark green colors.

Related:

DIY rainbow finger painting for kids!

Tips to keep in mind before you start finger painting activities–

• You can either make the paint at home or buy child-safe finger paints.
• To protect your child’s clothes from getting ruined, you can either make them wear an apron or put on old clothes.
• Spread a painting mat on the table or floor before starting the activity.
• If this is the first time your child will finger paint, it’s better to pour finger paints on paper plates–one color per plate.
• Keep baby wipes or paper towels handy to wipe off any paint that spills.
• Keep all things handy, so you don’t have to run around the house to find something after you’ve started, especially with paint on your hands.
• Have lots and lots of fun!

If you enjoyed this DIY, check these out:

Simple DIY Origami for Kids

How to make a pencil pinwheel for kids | Free DIY printable

Easy DIY birdhouse from milk carton for kids

Explore byjuslearning.com today to find out how your child can learn by seeing, playing, and doing through our interactive app and hands-on activities on Magic Workbooks that encourage children to learn at their own pace alongside beloved Disney and Pixar characters and become lifelong learners.