A Bloody Good Time

Wish I had taken pictures of the kids in the tub last night. It looked like a total blood bath and with it being April 1 and all, I could have really tricked you, dear readers. We enjoy an activity at my house about once a month or so when it's my turn to do bath that I've dubbed "Paint Bath." I made it up two or three years ago as a way to make bath-time more fun and paint-time less stressful. Parents, if you haven't tried this with your kids, you're missing out on a great bathtime, rainy-day, sunny-day, anyday activity that you can easily stretch out over an hour. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Ask your kids if they want tonight to be "Paint Bath Night" and see how loud they shriek and how quickly they get undressed and into the tub.

2. Fill up the bath with soapy water because what bath isn't more fun with bubbles? While you're getting the paint supplies together, the kids are getting their legit bath.

3. Gather your supplies: Crayola Washable Kid's Paint (don't bother with finger paints or paints marketed for the bathtub. These don't work as well. Stick to the ones linked here.) Gather paint brushes in all sizes, stamps of all sizes, cotton balls, q-tips and of course finger tips which are already "on hand." Gather old towels, preferrably in dark colors. Gather baby wipes.

4. Lay two old towels down against the side of the bathtub to collect paint drip. This will happen but the towels will minimize mess.

5. Your spot as a parent is on the floor near or on the towels with the baby wipes nearby.

6. Set up your painters' pallettes by dripping a little bit of each color on the edge of the bathtub. If you have more than one kid, they will aruge about who has more paint. Make sure you distribute the paint equally.

7. Let them go crazy dipping their fingers, hands, stamps, brushes, etc. into the paint and onto the shower walls behind them. Let them even paint each other. They can stand up, they can sit down, their soapy bath water will turn colors. They can write their names or draw pictures. They will have a blast and will be entertained and you, dear parent, will have a blast and will be entertained watching them create colorful artwork with no holds barred.

8. Encourage them not to splatter paint outside of the bathtub. Don't worry if they do, it comes off! As the paint drips down toward the towel, periodically wipe it up with the baby wipes. It's easier than you might think.

9. When their masterpieces are finished, take pictures! Then give them each a few baby wipes and let them clean up their "messes!" It works great!! You'll have to do several wipes followed eventually by dry towels, but I think you'll be amazed at how easily this paint cleans up off of shower walls, naked bodies, bathroom walls, floors, and even parents' clothes. Whatever is left, you can clean up during your next shower (or bath. And it can even be a paint bath. The fun is not relegated to kids!).

10. Try it out dear parents, and if you do, please take pictures to show me!!

Happy Paint Bathing!!