Screen-Free Activities Page

Natural-Dye Fingerpaints

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ages: Baby, Toddler

You will need:

• Beets (pink)
• Carrots (orange)
• Turmeric (yellow)
• Spinach (green)
• Frozen blueberries (purple)
• Brown rice flour
• Almond milk or water* (almond milk produces thicker shinier paints, but water is fine to use).

1. To make pink paint, use a blender to combine 1 tablespoon of cooked beets with 1/3 cup of brown rice flour and 5 tablespoons of almond milk (or water). Blend well, until completely smooth.
2. To make orange paint, blend ½ cup steamed carrots with 2 tablespoons of brown rice flour and 7 tablespoons of almond milk (or water). Blend well, until completely smooth.
3. To make yellow paint, blend ½ teaspoon turmeric with 1/3 cup of brown rice flour and 4 tablespoons of almond milk (or water). Blend well, until completely smooth.
4. To make green paint, blend 2 tablespoons of fresh spinach, shredded, 1/3 cup brown rice flour and 6 tablespoons almond milk (or water). Blend well, until completely smooth.
5. To make purple paint, blend 3 tablespoons fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed, 1/3 cup brown rice four, and 5 tablespoons almond milk (or water). Blend well, until completely smooth.
6. Keep paints refrigerated in an airtight container when not being used. Paints will keep for 24 hours. If you prepare the paints ahead of time keep them in the refrigerator until right before use. Allow them to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before giving them to your child so that they aren’t too cold to touch. You may need to give them a quick stir with a spoon if they have been sitting in the fridge for an hour or two.

Troubleshooting
The paints should be thick, like store-bought tempera or finger-paints. If necessary, add more brown rice flour by the tablespoon to thicken your paints appropriately. If the paints are too thick, add more almond milk (or water) by the tablespoon to thin it out.

Source: 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids by Asia Citro