It’s spring, and you can imagine what that means. Rainy days! Rainy days always bum my kids out. Especially when the weather has been nice enough to play outside for several days before. But don’t worry, you don’t have to resort to the television if you do not want to. I’m always on the search for fun new activities for my kids, and lucky you I’m here to share what works (and maybe somethings that don’t too!)

I originally saw this idea on a food show, where the chef made floated clear plates on top of dishes with this “milk paint” inside. I thought to myself, “forget dinner parties, let’s talk kids!”

Here is what you need:

• Milk (preferably whole milk, but any kind of milk will in fact work. Our experience was that whole milk worked the best however)
• Dish soap
• A shallow dish
• Food coloring
• Q-tips or toothpicks
• Some paper
• Paper towels for any spills.

In your shallow dish pour the milk. Then spread some drops of food coloring throughout. We did several dishes, and did two colors in each dish to reinforce primary and secondary colors. But you can put as many colors in your dish as you please. Next your take your toothpick and dip it into the dish soap, then put it into the milk. When the dish soap means the milk, it dissipates, and forces the food coloring to almost jump away from where you put the tooth pick. Your end result is swirly artwork. Eventually, the colors mix completely and the fun of watching the milk color run away ends. That’s where your paper comes in handy. I let my kids “finger” paint with the colors that they created for another hour or so of entertainment.

-Stephanie Wright