Toddler Art Project Supplies: Non-Toxic Grocery Alternatives to Paint and More

With toddlers, you can never be sure what will end up in their mouths. This can make drawing and painting with toddlers and older babies a stressful chore, even if you do choose "safe" commercially sold art supplies.

However, you likely have several alternatives right in your kitchen cabinets to use for art projects with your toddler. For edible art supplies you know will be safe, try these suggestions…

Paint

Almost any thick, creamy food can be used as a very safe finger or brush paint with toddlers. Pudding, white or chocolate, has long been a favorite of child care providers. Vanilla pudding works fabulously with toddlers because it can be easily colored with a drop of food coloring for a rainbow of paint colors (of course, it will all end up black in the end, anyway).

Catsup and mustard are colorful paints, too, and it won't matter if you baby or toddler has a little taste.

If you are looking for more of a water color for your toddler to experiment with, buy boxes of Jell-O or gelatin mix in a variety of colorful flavors. Mix the powder with hot water to dissolve it to a consistency that provides adequate color and texture. Be sure to let the mixture cool before painting with your toddler or baby.

Dropper art is popular with children and caregivers because it provides not only a fun paint experience, but develops fine motor (finger) coordination as well. With toddlers, mix packets of kool aid in a variety of colors with water, then let them use small eye droppers to drop the colors onto coffee filters. Toddlers will be mesmerized as the filter spreads the liquid color.

Glue and Fun Messes

It's a basic with papier-mâché - water and flour - and makes a good glue alternative to use with babies and toddlers when you are concerned about them eating the stuff. Simply mix warm water with flour to a somewhat runny consistency, and let your toddler use it to "glue" pieces of paper together. The mixture will not hold heavy objects, but will stick papers when wetted (colorful tissue paper works especially well).