Bubble Wrap Printmaker
- Play time:
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Setup:
- 5 minutes
- Where:
- Table
Why it helps
This activity is a wonderful way to explore textures. It helps your child understand how much pressure to use. Painting the bubbles requires focus and small movements. Pressing and peeling the paper involves both hands working together. The result is a cool, textured piece of art!
Steps
- Lay a sheet of bubble wrap on the table.
- Choose one color of tempera paint.
- Use the paint brush to cover the bubbles with paint.
- Place a clean sheet of paper on top of the wet bubbles.
- Press your hands firmly over the whole paper.
- Carefully peel the paper back to see the bubble pattern.
- Repeat with a new color to layer the prints!
Safety tip: Paint can be slippery on plastic surfaces. Always supervise your child to ensure they stay safely seated while working.
Make it easier
- Tape the bubble wrap to the table so it stays still while your child paints.
- Use a wide brush or a sponge so the bubbles get covered in just a few strokes.
- Press the paper down together, you on one side and your child on the other, then let your child peel.
Make it harder
- Cut the bubble wrap into a shape, like a fish or a heart, before painting and printing.
- Paint stripes of two colors side by side on the wrap to make a two-color print.
- Press the paper with fingertips only, one row of bubbles at a time, instead of a flat hand.
What to watch for
- Notice whether your child presses with flat hands, fingertips, or fists, and how evenly the print comes out.
- Watch how your child peels the paper. Lifting from one corner with a pinch takes more control than grabbing the middle.
- If wet paint on hands bothers your child, let them press the paper with a rolling pin or a clean sponge instead.
Where this helps in daily life
Pressing evenly and peeling paper up from a corner use the same hand control kids need to smooth a sticker flat, spread glue with a glue stick, and turn the pages of a book.
Need personalized support?
While these activities are great for home practice, nothing replaces the guidance of a licensed therapist. If you are in Irvine, CA or the Orange County area and have concerns about your child's Fine Motor Control, we invite you to connect with us.
Contact Tumble N' Dots Therapy →These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.
