Invisible Painting for Kids – Science and Art Secret Messages

Most kids are fascinated by the idea of sending secret messages. Writing with invisible ink is magical! Can you remember writing messages in invisible ink as a kid? Invisible Painting for Kids is priceless and brings history, art, and writing into one awesome activity.

Invisible Painting for Kids

There are lots of pricey creative products you can purchase to create hidden messages with your kids these days. However, many of these products are costly, not feasible for use with more than one or two kids, and sometimes difficult to use. 

Today, I am sharing a fun invisible painting technique for kids that we discovered using crayons and watercolor paint. It’s easy to use and budget-friendly which makes it perfect for moms of many or to use in the classroom. 

This fun watercolor paint invisible art for kids can be used in a variety of ways for learning and play to build important academic skills and critical thinking.

Plus it’s a great way to spark your child’s imagination!

Keep reading to learn how your child can create her own invisible ink with crayon resist secret message.

Invisible Art for Kids

You’ll need these supplies:

• White paper
• White crayon
• Paintbrush
• Watercolor paint

Here’s how you create your own invisible secret message:

1. Simply write a message on the white paper ahead of time with the white crayon. We went with a simple word for our early reader, you can certainly add a longer message or draw a picture. (It’s the perfect way to share a surprise or a fun secret!)
2. Remember, using the white crayon on white paper can be challenging, but writing it under really bright light will cause the light to reflect off of the wax as you write.
3. Have your child paint the paper with watercolors as they normally would using as many colors as they like. While they paint the paper, the hidden message will slowly be revealed.

Invisible ink with Crayon Resist

How your kids discover the magic of hidden messages:

There are a variety of exciting ways you can incorporate this invisible crayon resist art project into dramatic play, American history lessons, science experiments, and even language arts lessons. For instance, young boys fascinated by soldiers might be interested in pretending to be a secret agent! 

Keep reading to find out how you can facilitate a history lesson and some fun 007-style dramatic play with your little ones using this fun invisible painting project.

Spy Activities for Kids

Pretend to be a secret spy with Spy Science Experiments

Did you know soldiers have been sending secret messages since the first century? Ancient Greek and Roman soldiers were some of the first to use invisible ink to send hidden messages to one another. 

Later, during the American Revolution, patriots sent hidden messages using invisible ink. They wrote with invisible ink between the lines of ordinary letters. The recipient could use heat to reveal the message. You can explore this in a fun learning experiment with your kids.

Discuss the chemical reaction that happened between the heat applied to the letter and the ferrous sulfate the Revolutionary soldiers used to create their hidden messages. Then, experiment with creating your own secret messages using the simple watercolor and crayon method described above. 

Kids will enjoy taking turns pretending to be Revolutionary soldiers and spies passing secret messages back and forth. It’s a great way to bring American History to life for kids with some hands-on learning fun.

For added fun, you can set up an obstacle course in the living room or the backyard that messengers must traverse to deliver their secret letters. 

Here’s another fun invisible painting idea I got from my daughter:

Write magic mermaid messages!

The invisible ink with crayon resist technique was a big hit with my daughter. She had a lot of fun adding waves of watercolor paint to reveal our hidden message (LOVE). She told me the wavy lines reminded her of the ocean and she could imagine the word LOVE just appearing on the ocean the next time we visit. 

That gave me an idea! We could send out our hidden messages in bottles for mermaids to find. If your daughter loves mermaids too, this would definitely be a fun project to try. 

Once you’ve successfully revealed all the secret words in your invisible paintings, finish decorating your artwork with ocean-themed stickers and glitter. Then, roll them up and stuff them into recycled glass bottles. Finally, release them at see for mermaids to find.

The idea of sending messages in a bottle back and forth is full of magic and certain to get any child excited about writing. You can help them get excited about reading too. Check out these fun stories about messages in a bottle:

• Hello, Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
• The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas
• How to Catch a Mermaid? by Jane Rey 

Reading aloud together is a fantastic way to get kids excited about reading and ignite the imagination. You can use this fun invisible painting activity to facilitate even more learning fun and early reading practice too. Keep reading for more ideas on learning using this invisible painting project.

Hands on Activities for Writing and Spelling

Have fun learning

Using invisible painting in the classroom is also a fun way to practice a variety of academic lessons with your little ones. Preschoolers will enjoy revealing hidden shapes, ABCs, and numbers as they paint. Older children can use this magical technique to practice CVC words, sight words, and even a foreign language. After all, it’s never to early to start learning a foreign language!

Mystery Letter Writing for Kids

Secret Pen Pal

Have kids practice their spelling, handwriting, and letter writing skills by writing secret messages to their friends using a white crayon. Then, mail the secret message, watercolor paint, a paintbrush, and instructions to friends, cousins, and grandparents. 

Children will enjoy this fun activity and the recipients of these hidden messages will love discovering the secret note written just for them. 

Watercolor Crayon Resist

I can’t wait to hear all about your experiences writing secret messages in the comments.

This invisible art activity is the perfect way to ignite your child’s imagination, foster a fun learning environment, and turn your kids into “secret spies!” Plus, it’s a ton of fun! 

Summer Camp Activities at Home

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Ice Cube Painting