Goop Painting

One thing we could always use more of is meaningful fun time together as a family... and in this busy world, that is always a challenge.

When we do have a weekend together at home, each person is often busy doing their own thing. Instead, try setting aside an hour or so every week to do a creative, fun activity together as a family. Take a walk, prepare a meal, or make something together... depending on what your family enjoys.

Below is one simple idea to spend time together having fun, bonding, and making memories... especially for those with younger kids!

Goop is a colourful, thick goo squeezed out of a bottle that can be used to create easy, stand-out paintings.

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup salt

• About 2 cups water

• 1 set of poster paints (for colouring)

Method

Sift the flour and mix it with the salt and sugar. Gradually add water, stirring with a whisk or wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth and reaches the consistency of cake batter.

Divide the mixture into small batches and transfer them into small containers. Add different colours to each batch, stirring gradually until you achieve strong colours. Pour the mixture into gum bottles or any squeeze bottles with nozzles.

The goop should flow out in a smooth line. If it doesn’t, check the nozzle size and the consistency of the goop. Prepare a set of different colours and keep the bottles securely fastened.

To paint, simply squeeze the goop out of the bottle onto paper. You can also use combs, forks, toothbrushes, etc., to create interesting patterns.

The process of making goop itself can be a fun family activity. Once the goop is ready, take a large sheet of paper and create a family painting together. Alternatively, give each family member a separate sheet and see what they come up with. You can add to the fun by making it theme-based.

Whatever you create, write the date and names on it and hang it up as a memory of your fun time together.

Make sure you choose a space you don’t mind getting messy, and keep enough newspapers and old cloths handy for easy clean-up.

Now go ahead... have fun with your little ones!

The ‘Goop Recipe’ is taken from Family Falooda, a book full of interesting family fun-time ideas.