Salt Paintings With Kids

Salt Paintings With Kids are a great way to liven up a lazy summer afternoon when the kids are bored of the sprinkler. It’s a fun STEM activity too!

This STEM-based Salt Paintings with Kids project makes my nerdy heart smile. It combines two of my favorite things: creativity and science. This salt painting art project is easy and whimsical and can be done by even the youngest artist. It doesn’t take much time and it doesn’t make a big mess. I found it to be an ideal “in-between activities” summer project – something to occupy the kiddos while you take a minute to breathe. Or a way to wind them down after a full day of summertime fun. 

I cannot wait for The Tornado to be old enough to conduct really cool science experiments, particularly experiments that demonstrate relationships between things. This project not only accomplishes this by demonstrating how salt reacts to water and glue, but is beyond easy. I hope you enjoy it!!

SALT PAINTINGS WITH KIDS

Materials:

• Canvas or Paper (canvas is better, if only because you won’t tear it)
• Watercolor Paints
• Paint brushes
• Clear glue (I used Elmer’s)
• Kosher or table salt

Directions:

Step 1: Paint your Canvas. Be sure to use a lot of water. I repeatedly painted over my colors to make them bolder since I like darker. You do have to work quickly (or in a cooler room; we did this outside in 85-degree weather. Bad choice!)

Step 2: Drizzle clear glue over your painting in whatever pattern you fancy. 

Step 3: Sprinkle salt over the glue. You’ll notice it start to create little starbursts in the paint as the water reacts to and absorbs the salt (Yay, science!!!). As the salt dries, it also adds some sparkle to the painting.

Thanks for Reading,
Brianne

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