# Sponge Finger Painting
> Fasten small squares of kitchen sponge onto each fingertip with a small rubber band, dip them in paint and sweep them across paper to make patterns. Matching a chosen finger to a chosen color is a fun fine-motor challenge that works the weaker ring and pinky fingers.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-kids-sponge-fingers/
- Ages: 2–5 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 20 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, finger-strength, color-matching, pattern-making, creative-expression
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 5 piece Kitchen sponges, cut into small squares (household)
- 5 piece Small rubber bands (or thread or any fastener) (household)
- Kids' paint in several colors
- 2 sheet White paper (household)
- 1 piece Paper plate (paint palette) (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)
- Water (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of rubber bands: Thread or any fastener of your choice (The author lists thread or any fastener if you'd rather not use rubber bands.)

## Safety
- Use small rubber bands that hold the sponge snugly but not tightly. Check fingers often and take the band off right away if a finger looks red, pale or the child complains.
- Small rubber bands and sponge pieces are choking hazards. Supervise toddlers closely and collect all pieces when done.
- Rubber bands may contain latex. Use thread or another fastener for children with a latex allergy.
- Use non-toxic, washable kids' paint and keep painty fingers away from mouths and eyes. Wash hands after.

## Before you start
- Cut kitchen sponges into small squares, one per finger. Squares cover the whole fingertip better than rectangles.

## Steps
1. Wet the sponge squares a little to take away the stiffness.
2. Fasten a sponge square onto each finger with a small rubber band.
3. Squeeze a few paint colors onto a paper plate.
4. Dip your sponge fingers into the paint.
5. Move your fingers across the paper to make marks and patterns.
6. Challenge: bring out just one finger and match it to the color you choose. Try your ring finger and pinky too.
7. Make straight lines across and up and down for a plaid design.
8. Take the sponges off your fingers and use them to paint a new picture, like a rainbow.
9. Remove all rubber bands and sponges, then wash hands.

## Tips
- Cut squares, not rectangles, so the entire finger is covered. I had some rectangular ones and they got a bit tricky to keep on.
- If you'd rather not use a rubber band, pick a fastener of your choice. Both my kids did not complain, and we used a small size rubber band.
- Getting the paint color you want on a particular finger is a good challenge, especially for preschoolers. It got pretty tricky when it was the ring finger's turn, which makes this a great fine motor activity for strengthening the last two fingers.
- Moving fingers hard enough to make marks but gently enough to keep a planned pattern is part of the fun.
- This activity was great for both my toddler and preschool age kids, which is always a big plus for me.
- Little kids have a fascination with putting things on each of their fingers, which makes this a perfect little-kid art project. (from readers)

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

We have been having fun with many art projects suited for toddler age to preschool in the past. You can take a look at our **[cotton round art](https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-preschoolers-and-toddlers-cotton-rounds-art/)** or our **[wet tissue art](https://www.funlittles.com/easy-art-project-for-kids-just-add-water-art/).** This sponge art project is best suited for kids 2-5.

- Cut up kitchen sponges
- Thread or any fastener
- Paint

To start off I just wet cut up kitchen sponges little bit to remove the stiffness. I later fastened them on to my preschooler's fingers with a small rubber band.

 If you'd rather not use rubber band pick a fastener of your choice. But both my kids did not complain and we used a small size rubber band. While cutting up the sponges take care to cut squares since you want the entire finger to be covered. I had some rectangular ones and they got a bit tricky to keep them on.



With sponge fingers it was all about exploring



I realized while watching the kids paint that trying to get the paint color you want on a particular finger is a good challenge for kids, especially for preschoolers. At the first shot, my older one just picked the colors which were in the row. For the second attempt, she had to bring out just the finger she wants and match it with the paint color of her choice. This got pretty tricky when it was her ring finger's turn. Her piano teacher has already mentioned to her that the ring finger and little finger need more work since they are not as strong as the rest of them. At the back of her mind, she has been working her ring finger to hit the piano keys hard enough. It was cool to hear that associate that in this project. She tried hard and succeeded in picking up the exact color he wanted using her pinky and ring fingers. **As you can see this can be a great fine motor activity for strengthening her finger muscles especially the last two.**



The kids made beautiful patterns by moving her fingers across the paper (one more vigorously than the other) My older one took care to move it hard enough to make marks while gentle enough to create a pattern she had in mind. She made staright lines horizontally and vertically to create a fun effect.



Here is her plaid design.



After the sponges from the fingers were removed, she used them to create a muddy rainbow here.



This activity was great for both my toddler and preschool age kids which always a big plus for me.

Thanks for reading

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