One of my favorite activities for my kids on a hot summer day is to set up containers of water on the porch for some quick wet play. After seeing Growing a Jeweled Rose’s recent Rainbow Bath, I decided to add a new element of fun by swapping out our typical boring plain water with Rainbow Bubble Water.
I filled up four dollar store drawer dividers with water and added a drop or two of food coloring, eye safe baby soap, and a little glitter.
After setting up the water, I let my kids explore the water with paint brushes with a large sheet of white paper and small mirror. Since the water only had a small amount of pigment in it, the “paint” didn’t show up, but the kids seemed to enjoy the invisible paint even more than regular paint. After all, regular paint for small children comes with a list of rules of what can be painted or not painted. But when the paint is water and the kids are outside in play clothes, the world is a canvas waiting to be painted on. (Be sure to test a small amount of water if you are concerned about staining clothing or your porch.)
Once my kids had fully “painted” the paper and mirror, we searched the backyard for flowers and leaves to add to the Rainbow Bubble Water. My toddler enjoyed floating leaves and then watching the leaves sink.
Once my kids’ creativity started flowing, nothing could stop them. Soon my preschooler was painting the porch, and my toddler was painting her leg.
And, we even discovered that you can make a lovely bubble with a shoe. (Note: Experiment could not be replicated.)
After the shoe experiment, the water play soon became a little more wild with my toddler sticking her feet into the tubs of Rainbow Bubble Water much to her older brother’s delight. Before I could stop her, the entire container of red water had spilled over her whole dress. I can’t guarantee that red colored water would never stain, but I was happy to see that in this instance her dress never even changed color and washed up fine.
The kids loved playing with the Rainbow Bubble Water, and I will definitely set it up for them again.
Do you have a favorite water activity for a hot summer day?
Bethany
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What a fun idea. I agree- my kids love “painting” with water – the house, the fence, the steps, themselves…
Rainbow water, love it!
what is it with toddlers and painting themselves, my son is exactly the same
Food coloring is amazing isn’t it? We use it all the time in our play and it never stains – skin, clothes, whatever. Much to my surprise it always washes out. I lvoe tihs activity – especially with the glitter added.
Thank you! It is amazing how much fun a simple activity can be. I agree, Ness, I always assumed food coloring would stain until following so many blogs that use it for all sorts of easy clean up play ideas.
looks lots of fun!
So beautiful! Looks like you had great fun!
This looks like messy fun! I bet the rain washed all the bubbles left on the deck away.
What a lovely activity for the summer!
oooh great idea! i love how these things suddenly get a life of their own once kids are involved too!