My kids have gone stir crazy, stuck in the house during this COVID-19 pandemic. I tell my husband I work three jobs because I have my main job, my blog, and then I have to run camp “Gotta Keep Them Busy.” So I try to make their Saturdays as fun and exciting as possible. So my two older children are always arguing, and they like being competitive. As much as I would like to throw them in a pit and let them settle their differences, I can’t because that is not allowed, and I care about them…I am their mother, after all. Mom’s can dream, though lol! I decided to go with a much milder version in the form of paint gun fun. Here are some easy ways to do t-shirt painting with water guns!
This paint gun activity will provide at least an hour of fun…depending on the size of your space and the number of children. Before I go into the details, let’s talk about supplies!
You Will Need:
- water guns
- white shirt (one per child)
- washable paint
- cups
Before You Begin…
Let’s Talk About Paint
So after putting this post together, I realized that the paint I suggested is no longer available. All you need to purchase is washable paint, not acrylic. I have to stress this because I don’t want you looking for me because your child has turned violet, and it won’t wash off. Or because you ruined your husband’s lawn that he worked so hard to grow. Crayola is known for being washable; therefore, I would suggest Crayola washable paints. You will want to dilute the washable paint with water. I suggest having a large cup for each color solution if you need to refill the guns. How much paint and water do I need, Nikki? It should be thin enough to squirt through the tubing, but thick enough to see the color. It’s difficult to give you a precise amount because the amount of water you are using may vary, but I will say this; start with a small amount of paint in your water and keep adding until you get the right consistency.
Let’s Talk About Water Guns
I purchased mine from Walmart for .95 cents. Yes! Fun on a budget is one of my favorite things since my children constantly break things. You can buy the more expensive water guns, especially if it is older children (or adults because we can be big kids too lol!), but this type of activity doesn’t rely on money to make it more exciting. Make sure that the gun has a wide enough opening to pour the paint. Each child (or adult) should have at least one water gun. Maybe two if they want to be a dual sharpshooter.
There is nothing additional I can say about the white shirt. Just make sure everyone has one. I purchased mine at Michaels for $4 each with tax. You can take it a step further by adding white bottoms if you’d like.
There isn’t much direction to give with this activity…put on the shirts, fill the guns and go! Kids are usually good at making up their own game rules. However, I can provide some ideas to turn this into organized paint gun fun.
Ways To Play
Ultimate Paint Gun
Remember playing dodgeball and the balls would be on the center line and the game started with children on opposite sides running up to the center line and grabbing a ball? Well this would be the same concept with water guns. Place the water guns filled with paint in the center of the yard, field.. wherever you are. Place kids on opposite ends and let them tun up and grab a water gun. You can signal them by yelling “Go!” or with a whistle.
Make it a timed game of 30 minutes. The person with the least amount of paint on their shirt wins!
Shirt Art
For a less competitive feel, let one child stand in the center while the other children use their guns to paint their shirt. Make it a five minute time limit max so that the center child does not become drenched in paint, because children don’t always know when to stop.
This is great for smaller children as they tend to get lost in competitive games. Unless they are that super competitive, athletic three-year-old. If they are then you must be the parent of the kid on the blue team in my son’s soccer league. This kid was a professional soccer player and he was a beast on the field. One time he made a goal while wearing only one shoe. One shoe! If that’s your kid, then this isn’t his game. Go back to the first suggestion because that’s their game.
With each child taking a turn you have provided at least enough busy time to do something. Even if that something is to sit down and take a break. You’re welcome. The kids get a cool shirt as a memento until laundry day and then they can do it all over again another day.
Fun For Adults Too
Who says only kids should have fun? Not me. As we were filling up the water guns with paint, my husband started spraying the kids. Payback, for whatever they did that morning. So how can you turn this into a fun adult activity? One where children look on in envy because you are playing with their toys?
Make it an old-style western. Split into pairs (at high noon…or whatever time you’re hosting your group) with their backs against each other. They walk several steps and turn and shoot. First one to get paint on the other’s t-shirt is the winner. Sounds really simple right? That might be too simple, Nikki. Not at all. The key to a fun game for adults is to keep it simple. We work all day, don’t give us more “work” at a party. The fun is in watching adults play like children again, but even more competitive.
The winner’s of the initial pairing can face off with each other until there is only one winner…like a sports bracket playoff. Listen, feel free to tweak the details as these are only suggestions. It could be men against women, couples against couples…let your inner child decide.
Back To The Water Guns and T-shirts
So I did this activity with my children and they had a blast! My husband had fun as well. This was the only hour of the day where they weren’t fighting. The sun was shining and I think I heard angels singing. It was perfect. This doesn’t get old either. I think it has to do with being able to make a mess. Children like to get messy. It’s part of their creativity.
Do you know someone in need of an easy activity for their children? Please share this post with them! They will thank you for it! Did you come up with any new games to add to the t-shirt painting with water guns? Share them in the comments!
