Some parents are concerned when young children paint with watercolours. Children tend to put their hands in their mouths, painted or not. So if you want to be sure that the watercolours your children are using are non-toxic, you can mix your own watercolours with non-toxic foods using just a few ingredients and little effort.

 

Ingredients for non-toxic watercolours
Baking soda
Starch flour
Clear vinegar
Sugar
Food colouring
Water

Instructions
Mix together three tablespoons each of baking soda, cornflour and vinegar.
Boil one cup of white sugar in half a cup of water until the solution is clear. Stir 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sugar solution into the top mixture.
Stir until a smooth mixture is formed.
Pour the mixture into small plastic containers. An ice cube tray works well for this.
Mix in the different food colours one by one until the colours are even. The colours must be stirred in quickly before the mixture becomes too solid.
Leave to harden for at least three hours.