Kids paint jumbo marshmallows in rainbow colors with liquid watercolors, let them dry on wax paper, then dust them with baking soda. The finished marshmallows are for building rainbows, sorting colors, patterning and math play.
Painted marshmallows are art materials, not food. Once they are painted with watercolors and dusted with baking soda, don't let kids eat them.
Marshmallows look like a treat and can be a choking hazard for young children. Supervise closely, especially toddlers who mouth things.
Liquid watercolors can stain hands, clothes and surfaces, even washable ones. Cover the table and dress for mess.
An adult handles the baking soda dusting, as the author did. Keep the powder away from eyes.
Steps
Cover a metal cookie sheet with wax paper and lay out all the marshmallows.
Pour liquid watercolors into the cups of a plastic egg carton palette.
Set out a few brushes, two cups of water for rinsing and some paper towels for wiping.
Hold the marshmallow down with a finger on top, or pick it up, and paint around the sides.
Stand the marshmallow up like a tall cylinder and paint the bottom, then flip it over and paint the other circular end.
Rinse the brush in the first cup, then the second cup, before switching colors.
Leave the painted marshmallows standing up on the wax paper until the outside is no longer wet.
Adult: peel the marshmallows off the wax paper one by one and press the base of each into the bowl of baking soda.
Adult: gently dust off the excess baking soda so the marshmallows don't stick together.
Play and create: build a rainbow, name colors, make patterns or use them for math.
Tips
Having the second cup of water for brush cleaning really helps with very light colors like yellow. The first cup gets brown pretty fast.from the author
Holding the marshmallows down while painting is great fine motor exercise. My 4 year old pressed the top with one finger and painted with her other hand, and also tried just picking it up and holding it. Both worked.from the author
The outside will feel sticky when dry. As long as it isn't wet, they're done. If you leave them out a long time they get sticky and hard to peel off.from the author
You will lose some color from the base where the marshmallows were standing.from the author
Dust a handful of marshmallows at a time and you're done quickly.from the author
Make it your own
Build a rainbow arch with the painted marshmallows.
Go over color names and sort by color.
Practice patterning with the colors.
Use them in counting and math activities.
Arrange them in rainbow swirls.
The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · February 2015
Marshmallow painting is a wonderful project in itself. But how about we paint the marshmallows themselves in this simple art activity for kids?
Cover a metal cookie sheet with wax paper and lay out all your marshmallows. Place liquid watercolors in a palette; I always use plastic egg cartons.
Have a few paint brushes nearby, along with 2 cups of water for cleaning your brushes. The second cup gives you a fresh brush before switching colors.
My 4 year old tried multiple ways of holding down the marshmallows: pressing the top with her finger, or picking one up while painting. Great fine motor exercise!
Make sure your child paints the bottom while the marshmallow stands up like a tall cylinder, then flips it to cover the other base. Rainbow colors, of course!
Leave the well painted marshmallows on the wax paper standing up until dry. The outside will feel sticky, but as long as it's not wet, they're done.
Slowly peel them off one by one, then dust them with baking soda so they don't stick together. Now the marshmallows are ready for playing and creating.
Create rainbows, go over colors, practice patterning, engage in math activities - anything that works for you!
Loving the swirls! Our painted rainbow marshmallows, dusted off and all ready for playing and creating.
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