Mess Free Painting Colour Mixing

Over the last 4 years, particularly when my daughter was younger we often enjoyed mess free sensory activities. I started off with mess free painting and sensory bags as not only were items contained but my daughter suffered with eczema. I had to be very careful about what I exposed her skin to. She began reluctant to explore hands on so these opportunities offered a stepping stone for her. She now can't get enough and there isn't a day that passes where shes not keen to get her hands stuck in and get messy. Sometimes children need to be eased into getting used to having their hands messy.

Now we have babies in our household again I was keen to make some more sensory bags for the boys to explore whilst enjoying tummy time. We made a range of sensory bags which included these mess free - colour mixing paint bags. The boys enjoyed watching the paint move around in the bag and seemed fascinated with the sensation. Through the laminating pouch you could feel how cool and squidgy the paint was. Again the boys sadly suffer with eczema so I am again being cautious of what I expose their skin to. 

Not only have these been great for the twins but my preschooler has also taken to this activity, exploring what happens when two colours are mixed together. She has gone on to use the bags for mark making too!

To make your own mess free colouring mixing bags you will need:

Towel

Laminating Pouches

Paint

Iron

Seal the 3 sides of your pouch with the iron. Change the setting so no steam comes out of the iron and start off on a lower heat setting and increase as required to seal the pouch. On my iron I had to have the setting pretty high but I started on the lower setting, increasing gradually as I didn't want the pouch to melt over my iron.

Once the sides are sealed, open up the pouch and squirt inside your paint. Seal the last edge and once cooled down it is ready to be explored!

You don't need to add too much paint to your pouch for it to be effective. We enjoyed sticking it up on our patio doors. It was pleasing on the eye making marks and seeing the light stream through. 

Have you ever made sensory bags? Would love you to get intouch if you have and share your photos with us!