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A Toddler and Early Years STEM experiment to try- Messy Painting STEM

A Toddler and Early Years STEM experiment to try- Messy Painting STEM

A Toddler and Early Years STEM experiment to try- Messy Painting STEM

Sandra Beale is a BBC STEM Freelancer, Toddler STEM Contributor to Nursery World, STEM Ambassador Silver Badge holder (200+ hours), and Britain’s leading toddler STEM expert, sharing playful, hands‑on science activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her book 50 Fantastic Ideas for STEM Activities won the Creative Play Learning Resources 0–3 Award, and her work has been featured across BBC platforms and national early‑years media.

Sandra has been running Toddler and Early Years STEM for 11 years, delivering sessions at the Cambridge Science Centre, Saffron Walden Museum, local schools and nurseries, and community venues across the country.

And now a fantastic blogger with MMB Magazine.

sandra beale STEM expert

A Toddler and Early Years STEM experiment to try- Messy Painting STEM

I thought a fun experiment that you could try over the Spring Term in your Early Years setting or at home could be messy painting STEM. It’s great fun and very messy, and the children at my sessions love it!

Ask your preschoolers or Key Stage 1 children to gather around. They could either sit around the table or stand. I always find that being flexible with seating arrangements makes for more enjoyable experiences for Children and their caregivers.

toddler with messy play using paint for Sandra Beale STEAM series

Materials Required

  1. Large Tray
  2. A3 white card paper or any colour
  3. PVA Glue
  4. Metallic paint or any paint
  5. Pompoms
  6. Lollypop sticks
  7. Glitter

Method

  1. Lay the card paper in the tray.
  2. Squeeze different coloured blobs of paint on the side of the paper.
  3. Allow the child or children to use their pompoms and lollypop sticks as paintbrushes.
  4. Squirt big dollops of PVA glue on the paper.
  5. Encourage the children to use their hands to mix the paint and glue, spreading it across the paper.
  6. Finish by letting them sprinkle — or joyfully throw — glitter over their artwork.

The Science

  • This activity is fantastic for tactile learning.
  • Children explore texture, cause and effect, colour mixing, and material properties.
  • Using hands, tools, and different pressures helps develop fine and gross motor skills.
  • The freedom to experiment builds confidence, curiosity, and creative problem‑solving.

Taking it Forward

  • Try painting with feathers, cloth, pebbles, sponges, or natural materials collected outdoors.
  • Swap glitter for sand, rice, or water beads to explore different textures.

Try More STEM Experiments For Toddlers And Preschoolers

STEM Experiment for toddlers and preschoolers – Travelling Water
STEM Experiment for toddlers and preschoolers – Lava Lamp
STEM Experiment for toddlers and preschoolers – Making Snow

toddler and early years stem
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