✨ summer toddler activity ✨• marker “watercolor” 🧑🏾🎨
I’ve been seeing videos of people using markers for watercolor painting a lot lately on TikTok. So, when someone passed along a huge pickle jar full of old highlighters, I knew exactly what to do with it!
I soaked my markers for about 30 minute, but you can soak them longer, use less water, or use more markers for more saturated colors!
this held my three year olds attention for a decent amount of time. surprisingly, he was more interested in naming things I painted rather than painting them himself. I was hoping to work more on fine motor skills, but it became more of a review of colors, letters, and shapes!
#toddlerlearningactivities #preschoolactivities #summerfun #finemotorskills
Trying the watercolor marker activity with my own toddler was a refreshing experience this summer. What stood out most was how soaking old markers in water actually transformed their colors into beautiful translucent paints, making it a great way to reuse markers that would otherwise be discarded. By adjusting the soaking time and the number of markers used, we were able to create various shades and intensities, which kept the activity fresh and engaging. What surprised me was how this simple project not only captured my child's attention but also encouraged learning in an organic way. While I initially aimed to boost fine motor skills through painting, the real highlight was the interactive conversations that emerged. Naming colors, identifying shapes, and even recognizing letters within the paintings turned it into a mini educational session suited perfectly for preschoolers. To maximize the experience, I recommend preparing a variety of paper types and sizes to explore how the watercolors spread differently. Also, supervising water usage is important to avoid messes but letting kids experiment with the water-to-marker ratio adds a fun element of discovery. Overall, this activity is a wonderful blend of creativity, recycling, and early learning that’s ideal for keeping young children entertained and engaged during the summer months.