Liquid tempera paints work best for this project, although food coloring will do in a pinch. You'll also need an empty plastic pump bottle like the ones used to mist houseplants. Most department stores and pharmacies stock them. (Do not use bottles that once held household cleaners; they may contain a toxic residue.) For a canvas, hang an old bedsheet or a large piece of newsprint from a clothesline or extend it between two gateposts. Fill the pump bottle 3/4 of the way with water. Add just enough paint to color the water--too much will clog the spray nozzle. Tighten the cap and shake well to mix.
When your child is ready to begin painting, adjust the nozzle so that it will shoot a thin, straight stream. She should stand a few feet from the sheet. If two or more kids plan to paint at the same time, be sure everyone stands on the same side to avoid mishaps and remind them to aim only at the canvas. After covering her masterpiece with colorful splotches and squiggles, your child can try squirting on her signature. Or, she can hang up a new canvas and challenge another child to a long-distance game of tic-tac-toe.
