Sometimes you need a new fun activity to do with your toddler. Well, make that many times, especially in the afternoons or on hot days when it seems like you just have to stay inside to beat the heat.
I read all over the internet about having your toddler “paint” with shaving cream. There were quite a few variations, and there were even some “edible” options that had ingredients that sounded less than tasty. I loved the idea, but I did not like the concept of the “paint” being gross or even could possibly be harmful if my daughter decided to try it. (Let’s face it, young toddlers put EVERYTHING in their mouths.)
I had some extra whipping cream in my fridge one day, and while looking at it, I had the idea – what if I whipped the cream, added a little food coloring, and then had D (my daughter) paint with that? I figured it was worth a try. Here’s how to make the whipped cream “paint”:
- Whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form (this takes a while, so you might want to use a hand mixer or stand mixer to help out). You can use as much as you want, but I only use about one cup since it whips up to quite a bit and you don’t really need a ton for this activity.
- Portion the whipped cream into small containers or a cupcake tin (I used a cupcake tin, which I think was one of the parts my daughter loved the most).
- Add one or more drops of food coloring to each portion of the whipped cream to make different colors. I only added one drop, but you could easily add more or none at all.
- Place your child in the bathtub (easier cleanup, especially if your child is just in their diaper/swimsuit!) and let them dip their fingers in the whipped cream to paint the walls of the tub.
- When finished, give your child a quick bath – it not only cleans the tub, but them as well!
My daughter always has so much fun doing this, and it inevitably ended up all over her. She almost immediately wanted to put it in her mouth, as predicted, but she spent most of the time “painting.” While it was completely edible, it wasn’t sweetened to make it too irresistible to stop eating.
Now, I will warn you that the whipped cream leaves a greasy residue on the face, hands, hair, and everywhere it touched. After trying the activity a second time, I realized I just hadn’t bathed D long/good enough after the painting session. Be sure to use soap, or you will have a greasy child for a while! A quick rinse doesn’t work for us.
If you try this or have any other ideas like this, I’d love to hear how it goes! It is so fun for kids, and it uses up that little bit of whipping cream you might have on hand. Not to mention, it is a perfect indoor activity for all year!
