Fun Littles

Fun and easy kids activities

Rainbow Writing

Nov 18, 201328,848 views
Messy Play
Ages3–6 yrs
Prep5 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessHigh
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Paint rainbow stripes on a foil-covered baking tray, cover it with shaving cream, and let kids write, swirl and draw with their fingers to reveal the colors underneath. It is pre-writing practice for little ones and sight-word or spelling practice for older kids.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Shaving cream is not taste-safe. Keep it away from mouths and eyes, and supervise closely, especially with kids who still mouth things.
  • One reader notes the shaving cream label warns 'keep out of reach of children' and says Ohio preschools can't use it. Check your school or center's rules before using it with a group.
  • Shaving cream can contain fragrances that may irritate sensitive skin. Wash hands well after play.
  • Let the acrylic paint dry completely before adding shaving cream.
  • Use fingers or smooth, blunt tools. Sharp tools can make the paint peel off the foil.

Before the kids arrive

  • Tightly cover a baking tray with aluminium foil.
  • Paint rainbow stripes across the foil with acrylic paint and let it dry completely. An older child can do this as fine-motor practice.

Steps

  1. Wrap a baking tray tightly in aluminium foil.

  2. Paint rainbow stripes across the foil with acrylic paint.

  3. Let the paint dry completely.

  4. Spread a layer of shaving cream over the whole painted sheet.

  5. Write in the shaving cream with your fingers to make the rainbow colors show through.

  6. Make lines, swirls and letters to reveal more of the colors.

  7. Fill up the tray with rainbow writing.

  8. Swoosh and swish the cream, then smooth it out to start all over again.

  9. Older kids: write sight words or spelling words.

Tips

  • I usually involve the children in the preparation, since I believe preparation is half the fun. This time I prepared the sheet as a surprise for my 3 year old.from the author
  • This may be a good chance to have your older child prepare the sheet. Wrapping the foil is great fine motor practice.from the author
  • True to her age, she wanted to reveal the entire color palette with a big swipe of her fist. That's fine: just smooth out the shaving cream and start all over again.from the author
  • Try to use smooth or blunt 'writing' materials, since the paint may peel off depending on the brand. If the kids are just using their fingers you should be fine.from the author
  • A reader plans to use it with her kids for spelling practice.from readers
  • It's like scratch art, only messier, so kids will love it.from readers

Make it your own

  • Older kids practice sight words or spelling words.
  • Use cotton buds or other smooth, blunt tools instead of fingers.
  • Skip the writing and just enjoy free shaving cream sensory play.

Questions readers asked

Will the paint come off?

The author says the paint may peel off, depending on the brand, if kids use pointed tools. Use smooth or blunt tools; fingers should be fine.

I don't have acrylic paint. What else could I use?

One reader planned to laminate a rainbow piece of scrapbook paper instead. The post doesn't test this.

Is shaving cream OK to use with preschoolers?

The post doesn't address this. One reader notes the label warns 'keep out of reach of children' and says Ohio preschools can't use it. Check your program's rules, keep it away from mouths and eyes, and supervise closely.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · November 2013
rainbow tray
I tightly covered a baking tray with foil and painted rainbow colors using acrylic paint. This may be a good chance to have your older child prepare the sheet.
1 / 6

Rainbow Writing: the original post

My 3 year old really, I mean really wants to write simply because she sees big sister ( 5 years old) write with ease and interest. I find her trying to write her name, write “captions” for her pictures etc. As we all have personally seen the best to encourage the little ones to explore their area of interest further is through play. We are engaging in more sensory activities for kids through good old shaving cream trick with a rainbow twist. Who doesn’t enjoy rainbow activities? I know even I do! {Access all our writing activities here} {Don’t forget to visit all our shaving cream art projects.} For this fun sensory activity you will need

  • Baking Tray
  • Aluminium Foil
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Shaving Cream
  • Cotton Buds (optional)

I tightly covered a baking tray with foil and painted rainbow colors using acrylic paint. For this type of sensory activity I usually involve the children in the preparation since I believe that preparation is half the fun. However this time around, I wanted to surprise my 3 year old with this sensory activity I prepared the sheet. This may be a good chance to have your older child prepare the sheet. So many wonderful opportunities to practice those fine motor skills, especially with the wrapping of the foil. rainbow tray Once the paint dried I layered the sheet with shaving cream and had my little one come for a tiny surprise! She came squealing ” shaving cream mommy?” Knowing very well she would say yes, I asked ” Do you want to write with your fingers” rainbow activities for writing That’s what she did for a long time. Once she started making those lines, the colors on the foil would show and that got her even more excited. She would make more beautiful marks, swirls and even an occasional “A” to reveal more of the colors. Of course true to her age, she wanted to reveal the entire color palette by doing a big swipe with her fist. That’s fine all you have to do is smooth out the shaving cream to start all over again! Sensory activities like this are a perfect fit for her age group. pre writing with shaving cream Since she was totally in love with the writing medium she explore a lot more than she would normally do. We would fill fill up the tray with these beautiful rainbow writing. sensory shaving cream writing Obviously we ended up playing with the shaving cream by totally swooshing and swishing it. shaving cream sensory play This could be a wonderful way to have the older ones practice writing sight words. sight words practice Notes: Try to use smooth or blunt “writing” materials since the paint may ( depending on the brand) peel off. If the kids are just using their fingers you should be fine.

Rainbow Writing from BLOG ME MOM

Fore more sensory activities for kids visit our category page

More Messy play ideas are also on the blog

What readers say

💬 6 comments

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Check shaving cream rules for preschools

A reader notes shaving cream carries a 'keep out of reach of children' warning and says Ohio preschools can't use it. Check your label and local rules.

“in ohio, shaving cream is considered toxic, as there is a warning: keep out of reach of children.”
Karen Hay, Nov 2013

✨ Readers' twist

No acrylic paint? Laminate rainbow paper

A reader without acrylic paints plans to laminate a rainbow sheet of scrapbook paper and use that under the shaving cream instead.

“I thought about buying a rainbow piece of scrapbook paper, laminating it and using that.”
Bethany, Nov 2013

✨ Readers' twist

Use it for spelling practice

A reader who did shaving cream writing in elementary school loves the rainbow surprise and plans to use it with her kids for spelling practice.

“Love the rainbow surprise behind the shaving cream. Will be doing this with my kiddos for spelling practice.”
Joni Chism (@RavenofNM), Nov 2013

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 6 comments
  1. Karen Hay · Nov 2013

    Umm, in ohio, shaving cream is considered toxic, as there is a warning: keep out of reach of children. Therefore, Ohio preschools should not and connot use it! just an FYI!

  2. Emma @ P is for Preschooler · Nov 2013

    This looks so fun! It reminds me of scratch art - only messier, which means kids will love it! :)

  3. Bethany · Nov 2013

    This is such a cute idea! I don't have acrylic paints but I do have a laminaor. I thought about buying a rainbow piece of scrapbook paper, laminating it and using that. Thanks for the inspiration!

  4. Your Majesty · Nov 2013

    Haha! I might have to try this out! Seems like an interesting experiment. My daughters would love this!

  5. Joni Chism (@RavenofNM) · Nov 2013

    This is a lovely new twist on the shaving cream writing that I did in elementary school as a child. Love the rainbow surprise behind the shaving cream. Will be doing this with my kiddos for spelling practice. Thank's for the idea.

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