Need an easy summer activity that keeps little hands busy without loads of prep? We tried this ice cream pipette painting activity and it was such a lovely way to spend time together while building fine motor skills. If you’ve got a toddler who loves squeezing, splashing and exploring colours, this one’s definitely worth trying.
What You’ll Need for This Ice Cream Pipette Painting Activity
- White cardstock
- Black marker
- Cotton pads
- Washable finger paint
- Water
- Pipettes (one for each colour)
- Small cups or jars
- Glue
- A waterproof craft mat (trust me 😅)
- A bib or old clothes
I mixed washable finger paint with a little water to make it thin enough for the pipettes. It washed off really easily, which made cleanup much less stressful.
How to Set Up This Ice Cream Pipette Painting Activity
- Draw a simple ice cream cone onto white cardstock.
- Glue cotton pads above the cone to make the scoops.
- Mix washable finger paint with water in small cups.
- Give your toddler one pipette for each colour.
- Pop a waterproof mat underneath and don’t forget a bib.
- Then let your toddler explore and watch the colourful chaos begin!
The whole setup only took me about five minutes, which was exactly what I needed with a newborn in the house.
How We Played with Our Ice Cream Pipette Painting Activity
This was actually the very first craft we did after baby number two was born. I could tell my son had really missed our little crafting sessions together, so it felt quite special to finally sit down and make something with him again.
He was 33 months old and honestly… careful isn’t the word I’d use 😂. The paint definitely travelled beyond the cotton pads, but luckily I’d put a waterproof mat underneath and popped a bib on him first.
I sat beside him while breastfeeding his little brother and he happily squeezed the pipettes over the cotton pads. We used one pipette for each colour, which made things much easier for him.
At first the squeezing took quite a bit of concentration, but we’ve done a few pipette activities before, including this cute pipette fish and an autumn tree, and I could really see how much his control had improved. He was getting the hang of squeezing just enough paint without me needing to help all the time.
Once the paint had dried… well… he decided ripping the cotton pads off was just as much fun as painting them! Toddlers will be toddlers, and honestly I wasn’t even mad. The process was the whole point.
If I did it again, I’d actually let him paint the cone first too. I think he would’ve loved making the whole ice cream colourful.
What Toddlers Learn with This Ice Cream Pipette Painting Activity
Fine Motor Skills
Squeezing the pipette strengthens little hands and fingers, helping build the muscles they’ll later use for writing.
Hand-Eye Coordination
Guiding the paint onto the cotton pads takes concentration and control.
Colour Recognition
Using different coloured paints encourages children to name colours and notice how they look on the cotton.
Problem Solving
Toddlers naturally learn how much pressure they need to squeeze the pipette and how to control where the paint lands.
New Vocabulary
While we painted we chatted about words like:
- pipette
- squeeze
- drop
- absorb
- cotton
- cone
- scoop
- melt
- paint
- mix
My Honest Thoughts
I really loved this activity because it fitted around our new normal. I didn’t need loads of materials or lots of preparation, and I could still join in while feeding the baby.
I did find myself missing having my eldest curled up on my lap while we crafted.
Would I make this again? Absolutely.
Next time I’d let him colour the cone too, and I’d probably expect the finished craft to survive for about five minutes before little hands decided pulling it apart was the next exciting activity 😂.
Sometimes that’s toddler art. The memories matter far more than the finished picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this pipette painting activity suitable for?
I think it’s ideal from around 2½ years onwards. My son was 33 months old and really started mastering the pipettes after we’d practised with a few other activities.
Can I use food colouring instead of paint?
You can, but I prefer washable finger paint mixed with water. It gives brighter colours and washes out much more easily.
What skills do pipette activities develop?
Pipette activities help strengthen fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, encourage concentration, build hand strength and introduce early science concepts like absorbing liquids and colour mixing.
Related Toddler Activities
- Summer Crafts and Activities for Toddlers
- Fine Motor Activities
- Sensory Play
- Ice Cream Activities
- Fish Pipette Painting
- Autumn Tree Pipette Painting
Your Turn!
If you try this ice cream pipette painting activity, I’d love to see your colourful creations! Tag me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest using #mommyscrafttime. It honestly makes my day seeing your little ones enjoying these activities too.
Want More Easy Toddler Activities?
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Each week we explore a brand-new theme with simple crafts, toddler activities, stories, fun facts and play ideas that actually fit around real family life… even with a newborn in the mix.
