Key Messages

1. Have fun playing together! 2. Babies and children need to play - it’s how they learn

about our world. 3. Talk with your baby or child while you play - it will help

them learn to talk to you. 4. Watch and listen to your baby or child - let them lead the

play. 5. Don’t worry if your baby or child only plays for a short

time, it will still have been a positive experience.

Watch out for….. 1. Always keep a careful eye on your child. 2. Create a safe place for your child to play (check regularly

for broken toys and sharp edges) 3. Avoid using any substances which could cause irritation or allergies. 4. Children learn through putting things on their mouths - be careful not to use anything poisonous

!

Painting and Drawing

Somer Valley Children's Centre Services

Play Ideas

If you would like more copies of this leaflet, want more information, or would like a copy of any of the another

leaflets in this series, please contact Somer Valley Children’s Services on 01225 396660

This leaflet can be made available in a range of

languages, in large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats from

Tel: 0800 073 1214 or Textphone: 07980 998906

working together for health & well-being

What can I use? • Paint and finger paint onto

different textures e.g. thick plastic, a cardboard box

• Water and large brushes from DIY shop onto different textures e.g. walls in the garden

• Crayons, thick felt pens, chalk

• Shaving foam

• Cornflour mixed with a little water so it is thick

Why painting and drawing?

• Painting and drawing gives your

child the opportunity to be creative and to use their imagination

• It can help them to develop control of the muscles of their hands arms

• They can learn about size, colour, shape and balance and how different materials ‘behave’ e.g. paint will run if the paper is held up

Talking together...

• Comment on what you are doing and respond to their comments

• If your child comments on what they are painting or drawing, respond with a simple, appropriate sentence

• If they are not concentrating too deeply, ask for suggestions about what they are doing

• Give them lots of praise!

Playing together… • Paint or draw alongside your child

• Remember that your child will not always create a final drawing or painting, and that they will learn through the activity, not just through the final drawing

• Sometimes children will ‘paint over’ their previous work, this can be because they are telling a sto-ry as they paint

Painting and Drawing