Water Gun Painting: A Fun, Messy, and Creative Activity for Kids

Water Gun Painting: A Fun, Messy, and Creative Activity for Kids



Every parent knows that nothing makes a child happier than making a big mess. And let’s face it, as long as it’s a safe, creative mess, it’s worth every second of cleanup! That’s why this water gun painting activity is such a hit. It’s simple, fun, and can be done over and over with different themes. The best part? Once you have the supplies, they’ll last a while, and this can easily be added to your weekly rotation of activities.

Materials You’ll Need:
- Water gun or spray bottle
- Liquid watercolor
- Canvas or watercolor paper
- String
- Clothespins

Choosing Your Supplies:
First up, the water gun! Now, I know not every parent is comfortable with toy guns, and that’s totally understandable. A spray bottle works just as well and has the same effect. In fact, we’ve done both, and I’m pretty sure the kids didn’t even notice a difference!

Next, let’s talk about paint. While it seems like a no-brainer, my first attempt didn’t go as planned. I only had acrylic paint on hand, so I mixed it with water, shook it up, and let the kids go for it. While it worked, it wasn’t ideal. Liquid watercolor is hands down the best option—it mixes easily, sprays well, and cleans up easily too!

Now, what will they paint on? If you want to create a larger masterpiece to hang on the wall, a canvas is a great option. Just remember to lay down towels or something protective underneath, because let’s be real—those water guns will miss their target *a lot*!

Turning This Craft into a Game
This activity can quickly become an exciting game for the kids. Try cutting watercolor paper into different shapes, hanging them with clothespins on a string outside, and you’ve got a fun target practice! You can make it educational by teaching shapes or colors, or just let the kids go wild. If you’re working with multiple kids, assigning each their own shape or color can help avoid any “who painted what” arguments.

Another idea is to cover parts of the paper or canvas with tape or stencils, then let the kids spray away. When you remove the tape or stencil, you’ll have a cool design left behind!

Gifting This Craft
After the artwork dries, the possibilities are endless. You can paint over the abstract colors with words or pictures, add stickers, or leave them as they are. Find a special spot to hang their creations at home or take this opportunity to teach the magic of mailing a letter! Have them pick a special person to send their artwork to and let them practice writing a message (or write it for them while they add their own doodles). The key is to make them feel like it’s their project and that they’re doing it themselves—kids *love* feeling proud of their work.

Indoor and Outdoor Fun
This project is super versatile and can be done in all kinds of ways. If the weather isn’t cooperating or you don’t have a great outdoor space, just move it inside to the bathtub! The cleanup is even easier, and the fun is just as messy!

We’d love to see your creative results! Share your artwork with us by tagging @mothers.company or using #motherscompany. Happy painting!

xoxo,
Star
Back to blog