Shaving Cream Finger Painting – Outdoor Fine Motor Skill Activity

photo (c) Kelly Pfeiffer - child finger painting with shaving cream 1 by Kelly Pfeiffer

Shaving cream and a smooth vertical surface outside are all you need for outdoor finger painting fun that promotes fine motor skill development. Shaving cream actually cleans glass and other flat surfaces. Shaving cream leaves surfaces sparkling clean with a quick water rinse. Let preschoolers finger paint then use buckets of water and paint brushes to rinse off the shaving cream. Using fingers to paint and holding brushes to paint on a vertical surface are both fantastic fine motor activities. Preschoolers will develop fine motor skills, wrist strength and get spring cleaning done outdoors while finger painting with shaving cream on a vertical surface.

What You Need

1. A can of shaving cream

2. A smooth vertical workspace as a canvas

Sliding glass door

French door

Plastic picnic table on its side

Easel

Cookie sheet propped or hung vertically

Optional: Paint brushes and buckets of water

Outdoor Shaving Cream Finger Painting – Making It Happen

Photo (c) Kelly Pfeiffer - Child finger painting with shaving cream2 Simply add shaving cream to either the vertical surface and let kids explore.

Outdoor Shaving Cream Clean Up

Option 1- Rinse with Water

To clean shaving cream off of the vertical surface, rinse with a bucket or water or a garden hose.

Option 2 - Preschoolers Paint with Water

Give preschoolers a bucket of water and a paint brush that is 2” wide or larger. Preschoolers can “paint” the shaving cream off of the vertical surface to rinse it.

Safety with Shaving Cream

Shaving Cream isn't Edible - Caution young children that shaving cream looks great but tastes yucky.

Do Not Put In Eyes - Also caution young children that shaving cream will hurt if it gets in their eyes.

How Working on Vertical Surfaces Develops Fine Motor Skills

When preschoolers write, draw or do any work on a vertical surface, the hand is in a different position than working on a flat, horizontal surface. As preschoolers hold their hand up to work on a vertical surface, the wrist muscles and muscles in the hand are strengthened. Wrist and hand strength are essential to the development fine motor skills and pre-writing skills for preschoolers.

Spring Cleaning That Develops Fine Motor Skills

Preschool Cleaning Helpers - If you have outdoor surfaces that need spring cleaning, keep kids busy with this healthy fine motor activity. Ask kids to finger paint an entire surface such as a plastic outdoor picnic table or glass doors.

Rinse with Garden Hose Squirt Attachment - Holding a water squirt attachment uses fine motor skills. After covering items in shaving cream, preschoolers can rinse shaving cream off with water and develop more fine motor skills by using a garden hose squirt attachment piece.