I loved Eco-dough, so trying Eco-kids eco-fingerpaint ($20 per tube) seemed like a natural progression. Eco-fingerpaint is made of all natural ingredients. The powder arrives in a tube like eco-dough and contains additional small dishes to mix the paint in. The tube and tubs are compostable. Unfortunately, the lids fell off during shipping, so some powder spilled and created a big mess when I opened the tube.
What I Did Like
Compared to fingerpaints by other manufacturers, my son was far more creative with eco-fingerpaint and LOVED playing with the paints. Additionally, he loves to help mix the paint and enjoys using the paints as food he is cooking. He tells me he is making soup, and good soup at that. He uses a spoon to stir the paint in its little tub, dumps the tub out at just the right time, and mixes and matches colors at his own pace and desire. He was incredibly creative and in hindsight, I feel guilty for reacting the way I did to the paint as I tried to mix it properly and move it to different containers for storage.
What I Did Not Like
When I first tried eco-fingerpaint, I wondered if I was doing something wrong. The powder is hard to measure exactly, so achieving the proper consistency takes practice. However, once I got the mixing right, my son LOVED the paints, so it’s a trade-off, and his enjoyment continues to win out.
Once on paper, the paint dries dull and cracks, so if you are looking for a masterpiece for your wall, this paint might not be for you.
The Big Picture
If you want fingerpaint like the fingerpaints you probably grew up with, don’t order this product. If you want something more natural, give eco-fingerpaint a try. I was surprised by my son’s reaction, and it was a reminder to me that my preconceived notions of play are a limiting factor not an enabler.
