Fingerpaint Table

As many of you know, I have been doing a course on learning centers. Ms. Cornwell, the author, stated the importance of a fingerpaint center, all the wonders it does for children. So, today I had a fingerpaint center....poor Mrs. T.

Ms. Cornwell emphasized the importance of learning to clean up afterwards also, but since this was our first time, we tried, but I think we are going to have to work on that aspect.

I used shaving cream with dried watercoloring. Ms. Cornwell suggested using dried tempera whenever you would like to color something as it doesn't stain the tables. I figured the dried watercolors would do the same thing. So each child got a pile of shaving cream, then sprinkled on some color, plus they all had smocks on(thank goodness).

Then came the fun part, the mess, beautiful colors swirled around, mixed with friends colors, so much fun. Okay now what? Clean up. We had shaving cream in our hair, on our clothes--even with smocks, on the floor, smocks covered front and back. I wasn't sure how to clean up the kids and also let them clean up the area. We tried with some paper towels and wash rags, but I think this will be a skill learned with practice.

Was it fun? You bet, the children loved it, they couldn't wait for their turn. Oh, and the dried watercolor? It didn't stain the table, but ask the parents how their children turned colors. Oops. I think Mrs. T will be cleaning shaving cream up for weeks.