painting with a 22 month old - whatever possessed me?

[deaconblue]

It was manic, all paint became purple within seconds. Super wet brush, spashed all over, paint on hands, arms, my top and trousers, windowsill, floor. Of course none on his brand new painting apron. We now have about 20 dark purple pieces of artwork to delight family and friends with though

And I'll stake my last ten pee that he had a whale of a time

he was a very happy chap, spent the whole time yelling "painting painting" at the top of his voice

Oh bless! I can't wait to do stuff like that with our baby! It's what it's all about (making a heck of a mess but having truck loads of fun!)

You can get them painting books for very young kids where they already have the paint in them but you can't see it til you run a wet paint brush over it. Much cleaner for toddlers but probably not nearly as fun!

I spread the sunday papers all over the kitchen table and he paints directly onto it - with just one pot of paint and a brush. He loves it. The walls, chair and window sill also get a look in. DS3 also 22 months.

glad it's not just me who has those 'what was i thinking' moments. painting defo one of them - mainly when the baby's face got painted when i turned my back for two seconds...
still, she did enjoy it (dd1, not dd2 who was a bit nonplussed).

He's done those wet books since he was quite small and loves them. We do a lot of play-do and gluing and sticking too but I thought it was time I bit the bullet and had a go with the paints. Can't wait til the summer as all that stuff is so much easier outdoors

Aw, bet he just loved it. DD 2.6 is much less messy since I banned water. She just gets to dip in the paint and has several different brushes. It pretty much all ends up mud coloured, but they don't care, so you just have to train yourself to appreciate art in a different way. DD always finishes by painted both hands the yucky sludge colour and then pronounces she's "finished painting - you wash my hands now mummy".

I did apinting with my 18 month old recently. Result on my profile

All the pink btw is because we only had red and white paint

bloomin nora wallace, looks like I got off lightly. Have also learned valuable lesson - don't let toddler paint in his one and only Boden top!!! Has nice purple sleeves now

I remember DS1's creations taking about 3 days to dry due to quantity of paint applied

Wallace - very impressive!

Oh i did this last week with my 22mo DS, HILARIOUS. Started off with him being concerned that his hands were dirty, to literally wiping paint ANYWHERE.

It ended with me shouting to DH "GET SOME WET WIPES.. NOW". It was such a mess but such good fun, makes me feel like a good mum!

Hahaha very funny thread! kids are meant to get mess but you're right, somethings are better outdoors!

Top tip....use paint sponges/ shapes and different colour paint trays. Also its easier if you get a few mums together and have one helping to paint and the other to wipe clean after. same fun but half the mess!

DS and I done fingerpainting for the first time yesterday he is 10.5mths - what a laugh - we went out in the garden and i just let him dip his fingers in and get on with it - he smeared more over my face and jeans than he did on the paper - i felt like a lovely mummy after it an got some great pics of my wee man covered in paint!! He loved it