This activity is very easy to do and can be done with children of any ages. It can get fairly messy so make sure you paint where it can be cleaned easily (avoid any carpeted areas) or you can take it outside for a nice outdoor art experience.

What you need:

• Construction Paper (card stock works better since it can hold the weight of the sand.)
• Liquid Tempura Paint (I’m fond of using blue, white and silver)
• Liquid Dish Soap
• Sand
• Separate containers for the paint
• Paint Brushes (mid-sized brushes are best)

Directions:

1. Pour the Tempura paint into separate containers. Add in a few drops of liquid dish soap so the paint will clean up easier.
2. Pour in a bit of sand. It shouldn’t be so much that it dries the paint but enough where you the paint is thickened and you can see the grains of sand.
3. Stir until it is well blended.
4. Allow your child to paint.

And that is it. When the paint hardens, it creates an interesting effect and if you use the blue, white and silver, it almost looks like a picture of waves.

Try different colors and play around with the texture to create different effects.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit

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What you need:

• Ice Cubes (you can use simple ice cubes or freeze some with Popsicle sticks in them for holders)
• Paper (construction, card stock or mural)
• Powdered Tempura Paint of various colors (you can get this at any craft or art store and stores like Scholars Choice also offer it)
• Small dishes or shakers (if you use dishes, provide some spoons)

Directions:

1. Place a piece of paper out for the child to paint on.  (If you are using the sidewalk, skip this step.)
2. Place all the dry tempura paint in separate containers and the ice in a bowl by itself.
3. Allow the children to sprinkle dry paint onto their paper.
4. Have them pick up the ice cube and use it as a paint brush

The ice will melt and mix with the Tempura Paint making it turn into a liquid paint.  The children can move it around the paper to create designs or even start with a design and carefully melt the ice on the paint to make it into an actual painting.

Children really enjoy the cause and effect of this art experience and I find that it is a fairly clean activity, unless you are like me and always seem to spill the tempura paint yourself.

Enjoy,

Sirena Van Schaik

*The photo is a picture that my son painted with ice cube painting when he was two and a half.  He said it was a “Halloween Picture.”  Take a few moments and capture the idea behind the painting from your child’s words after they make the picture, it truly is amazing when you look back at it years later.*

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No, you are not going to be painting your child’s tongue or having your child paint your tongue.  You aren’t even going to be painting a big construction paper tongue.  You and your child are going to be using your tongues as paintbrushes and you will be surprised how much fun this activity is.

What you need:

• Vanilla Pudding
• Food Coloring
• Paper Pie Plates (or strong paper)
• a camera

Directions:

1. Mix up some instant vanilla pudding.
2. Place the vanilla in 4 seperate bowls.
3. Mix in a few drops of different food coloring in each bowl to make colored pudding (check the back of the box for the formula to making some colors).
4. Have your child put a few spoonfuls of pudding on a paper plate (this works better than paper since it is sturdier but you could probably use a thick card stock as well).
5. Now get your child to make a picture by moving the pudding around the plate with his or her tongue.
6. Take lots of pictures of the event and the finished work since this is one masterpiece that can’t be saved.

This is a great activity that I have done with my kids and my class.  I have found that some children will lick the plate clean while others will make intricate designs with the pudding.  The faces that the children make as they paint is very funny but nothing makes this activity as delightful as the moments when the children erupt in laughter at the silliness of it all.

Enjoy the sillier moments.

Sirena Van Schaik

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Since Mother’s Day is only a few days away, I thought that I would post one final craft that you can do with your kids. I actually thought of these when I was at the grocery store and I was passing the flower department.  There were small terracotta pots with paint brushes and paint sold in little paint your own flower pot kits.  This is a great idea and you can either buy the kit or simply grab the items yourself. 

What you will need:

• Terracotta pot (try to go with a lighter terracotta so you won’t need to apply as much paint to cover up the pot)
• Acrylic paint (you can buy it at the dollar store or you may have some handy since you have been doing some of the crafts I have already listed)
• Sandpaper
• Paint Brushes
• spray sealer

What you will need to do:

1. Clean off the terracotta pot and sand the rough spots and bumps.
2. Have your child paint the terracotta pot.  You can do just about anything with them.  One suggestion, however; is to apply a base coat to the pot prior to actually painting on the designs.  Make sure you allow the paint to dry completely between coats
3. Allow the pot to air dry.  This usually takes a few hours but it is better to give it a full day  before you finish it off.
4. Spray the outside and inside of the terracotta pot.  Usually you will need about 2 to 3 layers.
5. Wrap and give to mom.

To add a little bit more to this gift, you can place a plant in the pot and not only will you have a beautiful gift for mom, but you’ll have the flowers to go with it.

Sirena Van Schaik

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