Create Textured Artwork With Soap

Place the dye- and lotion-free bar of soap in a microwave-safe dish, then pop it in the microwave. The amount of warming time you’ll need depends on your microwave. We recommend starting with 30 seconds, then add another 15 or so as needed to make the soap melt from a bar into a fluffy cloud.

As the soap heats, ask your child to guess what will happen. (“Do you think the soap will get bigger or smaller? Will it be soft or hard when we take it out?”)

Take the soap out of the microwave and let it sit on the counter to cool. Resist touching — it will definitely be hot! Instead, take a moment to talk with your child about how the soap has changed. (“How does the soap look different now? Do you think the soap can go back to how it looked before? How do you think the soap will feel now?”)

When the soap has cooled, let your child feel the soap’s new texture. (“Is it bumpy? Lumpy? Silky? Smooth?”)

Have your child break the cloudlike fluff apart and spread the soap pieces across the cardstock, creating a textured canvas. The soap should stick to the paper when your child presses down.

Now it’s time to finger paint! Pour a golf ball-sized pool of tempera paint on a plastic tray or piece of wax paper.

Have your child spread colors onto the textured surface and continue adding more colors until the soap is covered with paint.