Ahh don't do it! You'll waste so much paint (granted I realize your kids probably won't be painting with Windsor Newton paint...). Each of those blobs is enough to paint several pictures and It will go to waste once they've finished painting on the one page.

Letting your paint dry out is always a good idea (you use less paint this way and colours don't get contaminated as you paint) but instead of adding paint to single sheets of paper buy yourself a covered artist pallet. They aren't expensive and you can fill each well with paint. Then let it dry for a week and just pull that out when they want. It's just as easy or even easier since you don't have to set up individual papers and wait for them to dry. If your kid gets a different colour of paint in a paint well, then just take a west tissue and wipe it. The pallete then offers an area to mix colours on if your child is older.

I just spent $19 today on a set of Crayola washable paints for my nephews. That's for 4 x 250 ml tubes, so they have to last. I was trying to figure out how to stop the 3-year-old going nuts and wasting them; thanks, Stream13. I'm off to buy a palette tomorrow.

My Little M loves to paint, but I don't always feel like dragging out the paints. This is a great idea that will allow her to paint anytime she wants to. Headed to the art cabinet right now!!!

I agree with Stream13. Not to be a jerk, but this is a waste when you can just give them a store-bought watercolour palette or squeeze out blobs of paint on a reusable plastic palette. I'm not sure why you'd be "busting out" top-of-the-line Windsor and Newton for your toddlers anyway, but you may as well save it, not throw it out.

@Charlie26 - Letting the paint dry only works for watercolour paints so if the Crayola paint is acrylic then you don't want to dry it out :)

@SRK: <G> I don't think they're using W&N but even with cheaper paint it's silly to waste so much on pieces of paper, especially since they're talking about being "economical"

Watercolors are such a fun mediam that eveyone should try it out. Just check out a few online tutorials and have fun practising/painting. I will say that having the proper paints and paper (especially paper) helps to make watercolors easier. But given that this article is about kids, having expensive paints or paper isn't worth it until they're older.

People have mentioned paint palettes and drying out paint. However, it's unnecessary. The $1 and $2 watercolor paints for children come already dry and in a palette. If it's so 'hard' to 'drag' out the paints, why offer it to your children at all?

My 4 year old has a $1 set of paints and a pad of paper - she can reach them anytime and all she needs is a glass of water. She goes to the kitchen, gets it whenever she wants and she paints whenever she feels like it. There might be a spill of water or some paint but it's water and watercolor paints - everything cleans up with a paper towel.

I never 'drag' out the paint. She can indulge in her creativity whenever she feels like it. Actually it's easier to clean than crayons. It's just the palette, the glass and the brush to put away instead of 200 crayons. Make life easy and let the kids paint with the dollar store deals. You don't need to lay down newspaper as long as it's a hardwood or linoleum floor and/or surface. Really, a paper towel in the end is all it requires. Enjoy!

This is hardly economical --- what a tremendous waste of paint and paper. I shudder at the idea of expensive tube watercolors used for kids' projects. What's wrong with using the dry Prang (or dollar store) watercolor set? Just as easy. I gave my kids unlimited access to cheap and plentiful art (and craft) supplies from toddlerhood on. They learn important skills just as well, and can be every bit as creative, with the cheap stuff as the expensive.

Now, when the day came that their skillset had progressed to where they were getting into MY Windsor Newton watercolors, MY Rapidograph pens, MY Pantone markers, that's when I realized those days were over, and they were given "real" art supplies as gifts from then on, until they had a full complement of their own. They're grown now (and one's a digital artist), so I guess making them "bust" out the cheap paint when they were little didn't kill them.

I could *almost* see doing this if you wanted to premix colors (although I'm with Stream13, just get a reusable palatte and use that), but these are all colors you get in a Crayola watercolor pack. What's the point, other than to waste paint?

Not something for every day but I can see this being good for a birthday party or when on holiday with the kids. Possibly even a car or cafe distraction depending on the child's age.

@Stream13 - oh, thanks for the heads-up! I don't know what the Crayola paint is, actually, just that it's the only paint my sister-in-law will let my nephews use (since she says it's the only one washable enough).

What buzzkills! Lol sorry but I think this is a fun idea. No it's not saving paint, no its no cheaper but come on, if you were a kid, its fun! The best part of watercolors or paints to me as a kid was that first time roughing up the new paints and you get that best part each time with this!
BUT, I am a painter with more than I can count of every medium out there and can tell you- don't use artist paints to give to your kids. Windsor and Newton and the like are real paints based with real (i.e. NOT non-toxic) chemical pigments. Cobalts, Cadmiums, Bismuth, etc. All big time no-no's for kids to get all on them. Heck, they're seriously not safe for adults!