Markers Run Free

Liberate markers from the straight and narrow with wet paper. Watch lines and colors flow while boosting divergent thinking and change perception.

WATCH OUT!

This is a wet activity, cover your surface, self and child accordingly. Your markers will get wet and lose pigment at the tips, just replace the caps and they will be refreshed a few hours later.

MATERIALS - click to buy

1. White construction paper, such as this example right here. Any light colored construction paper will do, but dark colors won't work well for this activity.
2. Broad-tipped, child-safe watercolor markers, like the ones found here on Amazon.
3. Large paint brush -  We like the kind you use to touch up paint around the house found here, 2 to 3 inches wide works well.
4. Water
5. Unbreakable, child-friendly metal or plastic bowl like this example

HOW TO

1. Have fun painting the entire sheet of paper with water.
2. While it’s still wet, ask your child to use the markers to draw to their hearts content. It’s ok if the wet paper gets torn a little in the process.
3. Skilly Spark: Watch the colors run. Talk about how the water makes their marks soften and change.
4. Give different colored markers a try to see even more watery effects until their drawing is complete.  Step away for a few, say 2 or 3 minutes, and see even more transformation when you come back. And when it dries, take a moment to remember how the marks looked when you started and now, how different it looks when it’s dry.

Keep the fun going

• Reverse it! Draw on dry paper and then paint it with water. Check out how the watery brush strokes change your kid's vision.
• When dry, these runny drawings make great wrapping paper and kid-friendly placemats.