If you’re looking for fun things to do with your toddler over the summer months, then family theatre shows might be the answer. The Tiger Who Came To Tea is currently playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London and is perfect for children aged three and above.

You can also throw in an afternoon tea or enjoy a range of ‘tea themed’ activities such as tea bag painting. We love a cuppa in the UK, so if you’ve already got a stash of tea bags in the cupboard, here’s the perfect activity for little ones. If the sun’s out, you could even set up a table underneath an umbrella and enjoy a spot of arts and crafts outside. Enjoy!

Step One: Gather a selection of tea bags. This should include traditional tea for its dark brown hues and fruit teas for their colour. Berry flavoured tea works particularly well as the colour is vibrant and provides a lovely contrast to the earthier colours. It also smells really nice!

Step Two: Fill shallow containers with warm water and let the teabags soak. This will make them wet and easy to paint with as the colour of the tea will transfer to the paper.

Step Three: Lay out some big sheets of white paper and let your children have fun dabbing the tea bags onto it. You might also find they want to drag the teabags to create a different effect. They might even start swinging the tea bags onto the paper and having a whole load of fun, which is why being outdoors is a good idea, as you won’t have to worry so much about the mess.

Step Four: Leave the paper in the sun to dry. The tea will stain it and create some really beautiful pictures.

Artistic tea bag painting ideas 

Once your little ones have got used to painting with tea bags, you can start to do more creative projects. For example, you can create an old pirate map by dapping black tea bags onto paper and leaving it to dry. Rip or burn the edges (adults, this is your job), then draw landmarks onto the maps including an X to mark the spot for treasure. 

You could also create the background for a birthday card using herbal tea bags with a strong colour. Leave it to dry before creating a collage over the top or adding a single picture. You could even decorate a piece of paper before writing a letter to a loved one or drawing your own picture on top. 

The possibilities are endless. It’s all about exploring and having fun. The more herbal teas you have, the more colourful your pictures will be, so you might want to consider this before starting. 

When it comes to family shows, The Tiger Who Came To Tea is delightful for youngsters. With singalong songs and plenty of interactive moments, it’ll keep your little one engaged from start to finish. Book your family theatre tickets today and enjoy a day out in London.