Helpful Tips for Painting with Kids

No one likes having a “bad hair day”…. not even your paintbrush!

When younger students are used to painting with liquid watercolors or liquid tempera, they often forget to add water to their paint when they start working with cake-style colors, like the popular Prang OVL-8 set (affiliate link).

Without enough water to liquify the paint, students tend to grind their brush into the paint, bending and damaging the bristles. This also forces paint up into the ferrule (making it hard to clean), resulting in what we call a “bad hair day” for that paintbrush! And it’s not so good for their paint set, either. Needless to say, this will shorten the lifespan of both your brushes and your paints.

So do your brushes a favor by teaching students to first dip their paintbrush in clean water and then squeeze a drop or two of water onto each color before they start to paint. The water will begin to soften and liquify the paint. Then remind students to keep adding water as they work.

Display this set of 3 FREE printable PDFs from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store to help your students remember to add water to their paints! Avoid “bad hair days” for your brushes and prolong the life of your paint sets with these helpful visual reminders.

Want more helpful tips for painting with kids? Visit some of my earlier posts for the following tips and more:

• Use a spray bottle to moisten paints and refill empty pans with tube paint.
• Teach proper brush rinsing and always store brushes separately from paint sets.
• Always purchase quality student grade paints and avoid the “washable” ones.