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Fine Motor Colour Mixing

by The Empowered Educator 26 Comments

We've been enjoying some fine motor colour mixing. I love finding ways to modify activities so toddlers can enjoy some creative fine motor play too and this is one of our favourites!

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When I saw these basters on special for 99 cents at our local Coles I was a tad excited! I knew they would provide a fine motor challenge for the girls while being fun at the same time!
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There was very little set up required….I filled some empty containers from the recycle box with water and then added a little edicol dye to make some lovely bright colours. A little absorbent paper towel and a few other trays and containers from the recycle bin and the colour mixing invitation to play was ready….
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Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem
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The girls both began to investigate in very different ways….Ruby began by squirting colours into the trays and Tara used a spoon to explore each colour tentatively first.
Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

The large squeeze heads of the basters provide a real challenge to developing fine motor skills and Ruby had to practice being able to pull up paint into the baster and hold it until she was ready to release.

fine motor colour mixing
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As they grew more confident with the large droppers the colour mixing and creating on paper towel began. This is definitely an outdoor activity as the basters hold a lot of liquid, some is absorbed on the paper towel but a lot does run to the ground as they pour, squeeze and experiment with placing colours on top of each other.
Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem
Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

Ruby really enjoyed filling the egg carton cups…..

Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

While Tara had lots of fun dropping paint and mixing colours in the trays….

Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem
The photo below shows the grip Ruby continues to use when grasping…at this age (3yrs)I would prefer her to be using her hand on top of the spoon to give her more control but it is something we are working on.
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Activities like this that require the use of her fingers and wrist help to strengthen those muscles. I gently rotate her hand to the preferable grip and show her how to use tools (including spoons when eating) in this way.
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Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

She did a lot of scooping with the spoon and then turning over to drop paint onto the towel….lots of wrist rotation in this activity.

Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem

Tara has more control over her wrist and finger movements and really seemed to enjoy using both hands to squeeze in different ways to achieve different results on her paper towel.

Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem
They created some lovely patterns and enjoyed talking about the colours they were using…
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Fine Motor Colour Mixing Fun - Mummy Musings and Mayhem
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A simple activity (as always!) but one that really gave their problem solving, fine motor and eye hand coordination skills a workout!

To extend on this activity you might like to use some smaller droppers like we did in this activity.ย 

This water paint can be reused until it runs out so we have had quite a few days of this activity keeping the girls busy, I just left it set up on the table outdoors…you don't need to keep using paper towel, the colours running and mixing on the table are lots of fun too! Simple, fun and a workout for those fine motor muscles!

If you give it a try, be sure to share some photos in our Empowered Educator Facebook Community.ย Iโ€™d love to see them!
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A Little About Me

Jodie Clarke is an early childhood professional supporting educators who want and need to stay passionate about the work they do! She has 30 years hands-on experience in the early childhood and human services sectors across many different roles.


Jodie is mum to 3 in Australia and has already helped thousands of educators with their work through her popular blog posts, activity ideas, online training and e-books.

Filed Under: colours, fine motor fun, kids co-op, messy fun, messy play, sensory fun, sensory play

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Comments

  1. Pinkoddy says

    15/08/2013 at 7:17 pm

    I shall pin this as we need fine motor activities. There’s special knives, forks and spoons that have special holes that help you hold them properly – the OT showed me.

    Thank you for hosting.

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      16/08/2013 at 1:05 pm

      Thanks for pinning! Like the sound of those special cutlery as I am at a loss at the moment. The OT said not to stress about it to much but she seems to be getting worse with it not better unfortunately!

      Reply
  2. Amie M says

    18/08/2013 at 2:56 pm

    Loving those basters Jode! I have just started a Montessori course and I am on the lookout for exactly the same thing. Read a few posts from your week while I was here. Big beds for the girls, that’s awesome, hope it is all going well. I am looking at an used toddler bed in the kids room and considering moving it out. Finding it hard to make the move, I’m sure you understand ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      26/08/2013 at 11:18 am

      Thanks Amie…check out Coles! Big beds are going well although Ruby has had a few falls! it was wrenching to see those little bodies in the huge bed….where did the babies go…perfectly understand xx

      Reply
  3. Colleen Beck says

    23/08/2013 at 3:22 am

    I love the turkey basters! We are featuring your post this week on Share It Saturday. Thanks for linking up!
    Colleen at Sugar Aunts

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      26/08/2013 at 11:19 am

      Thanks Colleen…lovely of you to feature this activity…thanks for hosting!

      Reply
  4. Jaime Oliver says

    24/08/2013 at 6:37 pm

    wow that looks immense!! i am loving those basters! x

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      26/08/2013 at 11:20 am

      They are still having fun with them Jaime although the colours are a little over mixed now!!

      Reply
  5. Coombe Mill says

    24/08/2013 at 7:53 pm

    So many skills to develop with these activities and fun for kids too. Loving that all the mess is outdoors. Thank you for joining me on Country Kids

    Reply
    • Jodie Clarke says

      26/08/2013 at 11:21 am

      Thanks for hosting, I love linking up and visiting everyone!Mess is always better…and more fun outdoors of course!

      Reply
  6. Danya atDanyaBanya says

    26/08/2013 at 11:15 am

    Those basters are great! What a fun way to build up the hand muscles. I’ll have to keep an eye out for some…

    Reply
  7. Happy Whimsical Hearts says

    26/08/2013 at 11:26 am

    Hee hee, I would not have thought to use basters like this! But what fun! I bet your girls had a ball, and I know my kids will! Thanks Jode

    Reply
  8. Be A Fun Mum says

    26/08/2013 at 11:34 pm

    They look like they are having a blast! My son would LOVE those pump things!

    Reply
  9. [email protected] Little Bookcase says

    27/08/2013 at 11:32 am

    Those basters are incredible.

    Reply
  10. Kate - An Everyday Story says

    27/08/2013 at 12:59 pm

    I saw those basters at Coles too. Why didn’t I get them?!?! Haha ๐Ÿ™‚ My littles would really love them ๐Ÿ™‚ I might need to pop back and see if they still have some.

    Reply
  11. Bekka Joy says

    28/08/2013 at 11:25 am

    What a bargain! Will have to have a look at my local Coles… pinned this one – hopefully we can get our hands on the tools!! Might do a mini version with medicine droppers!

    Reply
  12. Rez P says

    28/08/2013 at 12:02 pm

    I’ve never thought of using basters
    What a fab idea. I’m going to look tomorrow for sure

    Reply
  13. Deborah Alter-Rasche says

    29/08/2013 at 4:13 am

    It looks like they had such messy fun with those large basters! We’re only used the small medicine sized ones before and they were good for inside. My kids would have a ball outside with ones that size! I may wait till it’s a tad warmer outside here though ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  14. Elise Ellerman says

    29/08/2013 at 8:09 am

    It’s happy days when you spot an item that instantly inspires a fun and creative activity. What a perfect activity to enjoy outdoors – so much colour and so many lovely creations.

    Reply
  15. Ness @ One Perfect Day says

    30/08/2013 at 6:18 am

    Oh wow, those blasters!!! I need some of those, I mean, Mr 5 needs some of those. How fun and so many possibilities.

    Reply
  16. Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky says

    01/09/2013 at 2:22 am

    What fun! I must get some of those big droppers, they looks awesome.

    Reply
  17. Kate Lloyd says

    01/09/2013 at 3:43 am

    Looks like so much fun!!!!

    Reply
  18. Chelsea says

    01/09/2013 at 6:44 am

    You always have the most lovely photos! Beautiful.

    Reply
  19. Rebecca English says

    01/09/2013 at 7:50 am

    What lovely colourful fun!

    Thanks for joining The Sunday Showcase this week. I’ve pinned!

    Reply
  20. Christine says

    28/05/2015 at 3:00 pm

    We’ve been doing a similar activity, but with drippers, food dye, and tubs of clear water. The kids were seeing what happened when you mixed the colours together in the water. Lots of fun!

    Reply
    • mummymusingsmayhem says

      03/06/2015 at 2:24 am

      Love that idea Christine! thanks for sharing with us x

      Reply

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Jodie
Hi, I'm Jode, Mum to twins and a teen, and an early childhood educator.
I love to share ideas & resources for play based learning
Find out more about me here...

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