Summer is here and the weather is fine, so why not enjoy your artistic side this summer by embracing your inner child and getting messy with the kids? It costs very little to stock up on paper and paint, and I have searched for some unique and inspiring art play to share with kids of all ages.

I don’t know about you but I love nothing better than that feeling of ‘I made that’, and the long summer holidays are a great time to indulge. Art helps to keep the kids occupied, giving them a sense of purpose and creating something you can enjoy for months to come. You could even go the whole hog by creating an Art Gallery in your living room and inviting all your friends around for a ‘viewing’, serving sparkly drinks and nibbles, just like a proper art show.

Wonderful watercolour creations

Let’s start with the babies – I found a great idea for Ice Paint Sticks on messylittlemonster.com. Those of you with babies may cringe at the thought of arting, but this allows all ages to play together safely. Simply pop water and food colouring into yogurt pots (or similar), put a lolly stick in and freeze for a couple of hours. Then grab some strong card or thick paper and let the kids loose with wonderful watercolour creations that are ‘mouth –safe’ for baby and fun for all the kids!

For toddlers, try Water Pistol Painting. Again using food colouring in water, this time decanted into super soakers and fired at a big piece of paper in the garden. A great way to allow water play but keep them focussed rather than disintegrating into all out war.

Hold a fashion show with tie-dyed T-shirts

If you want to make something to keep, why not use fabric paint in water and, using those water pistols, create your very own tie-dyed T shirts? Simply pop a piece of cardboard in the body of the Tee, prop it up and fire away. Once dried, follow paint instructions to seal and your kids have their very own art creation to wear. Add names and writing in fabric paints if they want to ‘personalise’ their own and hold a fashion show in the garden. Hey – what a great excuse to fire up the barbeque.

At the end of a busy day you probably want to get the kids bathed early – try making up some “bath paints” using shaving foam and food colouring to encourage some wonderfully creative bath time art on the walls, the bath and themselves! Take photos of the chaos and the kids can have fun looking back through them afterwards, maybe printing some out to collage with the images.

Build memories even after the fun has ended

Try this with all the adventures and build memories even after the fun has ended. After all – your smart-phone isn’t called ‘smart’ for nothing.

I hope you enjoy a creative summer and enjoy expressing your artistic side (don’t tell me you won’t be having a go yourself) and don’t forget to stock up on ice creams to celebrate all those masterpieces!