We love experimenting around with various creative materials and seeing the different results that can be produced using these different materials and processes. 

In today's arty activity, the steps involved are simple enough for children of all ages, but can vary dramatically in results depending on their design. The results that we obtained ended up looking quite beautiful, but it was the experimenting with different designs, colours and the dramatic change that occurred when water was added, that really made this a stand-out activity.

Ages: 2+

See the bottom for Handy Tips

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We've been interested in monoprinting ever since we tried it out ages ago while cardboard comb painting and painting on a mirror. The reveal that you get when you peel back the paper is fun and exciting as you never quite know what is going to appear and no two prints will ever be the same!

This clay imprinting art is a fun activity for kids of all ages with just a few simple steps.

1) Making your design by imprinting your rolled clay, 2) painting over the design, and 3) printing the design off the clay.

Ages: 2-3+

See the bottom of the post for handy tips to extend or simplify for your child

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The other day my mum (and the kids' beloved Nana) came over to hang out. I thought that we could all do some art, as being creative together provides time for chatting, learning, connecting and bonding. 

Not only would we end up with some lovely artwork but also memories of togetherness that will last a lifetime.

I'd been saving some watercolour paper to create something cool with for a while, and thought we could use it to paint some vibrant watercolour spider-web designs.

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These days, the latest thing for disposable soap dispensers is "foaming soap." It's actually a pretty good idea (especially when kids are using them) as the dispenser has a built in foaming thing (ok, don't ask me what it's actually called) that adds air to the soap as it comes out and makes it all frothy. It means that you end up using less soap than you might have needed otherwise. Excellent.
I wondered, if we put paint into the empty foaming soap dispensers, would the paint also froth up going through the frothy part? We had to experiment! Combining art and science is a lot of fun.

Through some trial and error, we discovered that you did still need a soapy solution with the paint in order to get it to froth well. We found that different quantities of soap/paint/water gave different types of foam. We used this activity to experiment, explore density and viscosity, talk about colours, colour mixing, develop hand muscle strength, use our senses, do printing, make pictures, work on oral language and vocabulary, etc.

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With both a toddler and a preschooler in the house, it can be difficult finding collaborative activities for them both that doesn't result in my 4 year old declaring that her 18 month old brother is "wrecking everything!" 

They both love to paint though and when the experience is more about the process than the product, I find they are both able to have a great time creating and learning together.

Today we had some simple explorative painting and printing fun with plastic food.

Ages: 1+

(M=4, N=18 months)

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~In memory of Great Nana Lollback~

Following a death in the family, Maddie and I wanted to create something special in their memory as a gift. Instead of a bunch of flowers that would die we decided to paint some of their favourite flowers that would bloom forever instead. 

Creating Art together was a special bonding time and allowed us to talk about any thoughts or feelings.

Ages: 3+

(See Handy Tips at the bottom for ideas to extend or simplify for your child)

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Welcome to  TUESDAY TOTS for this week.
Brought to you by Learn with Play at home (us), Rainy Day Mum, 
Growing a Jeweled Rose and In Lieu of Preschool

This Week:

Learn with Play at home is featuring

10 Spring Activities for Kids

These great activities all came from last weeks Tuesday Tots linkup
where we featured Activities for Learning about Shapes and Patterns

FEATURED

Despite the fact that here in Australia we are currently in Autumn, this week's Tuesday Tots was full of such lovely Spring themed activities that I had to share anyway. Regardless of the season, activities, art and crafts that take inspiration from nature are always a favourite here so there's no need for us to wait until next spring to give them a go.

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Any time I see canvases in good value packs or discounted, I always grab a few so I have them on hand. 

There's something about painting on canvas that feels really special and it's a great way to make some instant art that's ready to hang as soon as it's dry.

We did this activity over 2 days which was a really nice process. 

The first day was all about designing with the glue and 

the second day was about creativity and experiment with the paint over the glue.

So really, it's 2 activities for the price of 1. Bonus! haha

Ages: 2+

Materials: Canvas, Craft Glue, Paint 

(we used acrylic paint but would love to try water-colour or quite thinned down paint next time. We think it would have a better result)

Squeezing the glue onto the canvas was really hard at first. 

She was really having to squeeze very hard to get it going. Great for building muscle strength.

But once she got a good flow going there was no stopping her

We loved talking about the way the glue was flowing and the patterns she was making

She asked me to do an M for her at the top

 (which I encouraged her to do herself as she knows how to but she was worried about wrecking it and wanted it perfect)

Wouldn't it be fun to do an Alphabet Canvas from glue?

She swirled, she dotted, she made puddles and trees and pools and streams.

There was constant dialogue about what she was doing and what it all meant.

When she decided she'd finished we popped it aside to dry and to come back to another day.

Invitation to paint, be creative, experiment and discover

Straight to painting her M

She was definitely drawn to paint over her glue lines. 

She used a brush she'd just washed with water and we loved the effect of the thinner, more watery paint

She added more water to her paints to mix herself a thinner paint and then poured it onto her canvas

Swirling the paint around and around like the glue lines underneath

On the window with the light in the back

Whilst she was unhappy about the amount of green painted she'd tipped over the top initially it's helped her learn about taking her time and thinking about her desired end result for future creations.

We're excited to do this activity again using water-colours or thinned down paint

Handy Tips

- Simplify this activity by providing the glue in an easy squeeze container (like a recycled sauce bottle) or a small plastic jug.

- Extend the learning in this activity by using it as a name writing activity and have children write their names in glue on the canvas. Alternatively you could make a fun letter or number canvas

- Mix it up by experimenting with different paint types over the glue. Which cover the glue completely? Which allow the glue to show up more?

- Make it super fun by having children do the 2nd half of the activity (the painting part), blindfolded and by painting with their fingers. Have them feel over the canvas for their designs and paint them according to touch.

- If your child has other ideas for the activity, let them go with it. Allow them to be creative and if it turns into a mess and doesn't have the end result they were hoping for, then that's all part of the learning too!

Here are some of our other fun ways to Paint:

Invitation to Paint with Recycled Materials

Painting with paper, foil and cellophane

Shower sponge painting

Painting pasta shells

Comb Painting

PVA glue painting

3-Panel Painting

Tell us. What's your kid's favourite material to paint with?

Happy playing,

Debs :)

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Welcome to  TUESDAY TOTS for this week

This Week:

Learn with Play at home is featuring

Simple Ways to get Arty

from last weeks Tuesday Tots linkup

(if you missed it, we featured 5 Activities for Learning using Everyday Materials)

FEATURED

Another great week of activities linked up to Tuesday Tots. My eyes kept being drawn to bright colours and fun arty projects so I had a look through and found 6 ideas that I think you could do with your kids easily and that any child, regardless of the age should be able to have a go at. 
Here they are.

1) Crayon Resist Art. An oldie but a goodie. Here's a post by Train up a Child, Learn as we Go. to see how to make them.

2) Eric Carle Seahorse Picture. I loved this effective yet easy way that the little ones from The Usual Mayhem made these gorgeous seahorse pictures as part of their ocean unit.

3) Valentines Scratch Art . After having a look at these I desperately want to do some scratch art. So easy but such fabulous results from Putti's World

4) Painting with Trains. What child wouldn't want to paint like this? Plus, the end result looked really cool. It comes from Play Trains

5) Winter Tree Art. Here's a super sweet and ultra simple little way to make a great Winter Tree picture from Buggy and Buddy

6) Salt Painting. Another classic idea that doesn't go out style. This is a great way to make a simple, arty picture while getting a bit creative and sensory at the same time from Making Boys Men.

Congratulations if you were featured and thanks for linking up!  

If you're featured you're welcome to grab a featured button.

We love to get Arty too.

click the pictures below to see some of our ideas.

          

-----------------------------------

Now it's your turn to link up your posts for children aged 5 & under. 

Remember to come back and check out all the great activities linked up!

Maybe next week you will be featured.

(please read the guidelines before linking up)

Happy playing,

Debs :)

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The P.L.A.Y Group

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I discovered I had a bit of a collection of different coloured and patterned paper napkins the other day and thought they'd be great for a collage and some fine-motor tearing practice.

I was impressed by the learning that I'd not even anticipated.

Ages: 2+

(See Handy Tips at the bottom for ideas to Simplify and Extend to meet your child's needs)

Materials: Paper napkins, paper, glue, paintbrush

So, here's how it turned out for us:

I provided some pieces already ripped up in order to encourage her to tear the napkins. Great fine motor skills.

Problem Solving. Tearing the napkin while it was folded up was so tricky. Opening it out made it thinner and easier to tear through. We talked about layers, thickness etc.

She discovered one of the napkins was lined with a bumpy pattern. This gave us opportunities to talk about textures, patterns etc.

Lots of pasting

Hang on! This napkin was easy to tear even when still folded. We discovered different types of paper were easier or harder to tear through.

You don't have to always paste things flat

Colourful, creative FUN!

She pleaded with me for scissors so I gave in and let her have some. She discovered cutting paper napkins was more difficult than standard paper.

The finished piece

Handy Tips

- Simplify this activity for younger children by providing the paper already torn or by helping them to tear it. Encourage them to talk about the colours and pattens of the paper napkins

- Extend this activity by having your child make an art piece from their torn paper napkins and have them tell you a story about it. Write it down for them or have them write about it.

-Mix it Up by providing the paper napkins with a few different materials eg scissors, paint, water etc

- Demonstrate and discuss particular skills if your child is new to these techniques such as tearing paper and how to tear around shapes etc.

- Use new language and descriptive words like, "layers" and "problem solving" This will help with their language development. 

Here are some more Activities to help practice Fine Motor Skills and Creativity

(click the picture to take you to the activity)

    

If you enjoyed this post, please spare a second to give me a vote in the "TOP 25 Creative Moms". 

Just click the badge below and click "vote" on Learn with Play at home. Thanks!

Happy playing,
Debs :)

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