Circle Crayon and Watercolor Resist

Learning is an on-going event around our house.  S is never quite able to escape the clutches of her teacher and former art teacher mother.  I always try to find unique ways to turn learning into something fun... usually art related.  For this project, I simply had in mind to practice some fine motor skills seasoned with a little shape recognition.

As always, the learning came prior to creating the art.  We set out on a “circle hunt” around the house.  We scoured the each room high and low, finding circular objects hidden among our lives.  There were circles disguised as the legs of our coffee table, drawer pulls on an end table, and glasses in the cupboard.  S loved turning it into a game!  We also snuggled up and read books about shapes, focusing on the pages that told us about circles.

 

Now time for the fun... here is what you will need:

white paper (any size)
assorted crayons
watercolor paints
brush
cup with water

First, start by having your child use the crayon to draw circles all over his/her paper.  Make sure they press really hard to ensure that you will be able to see it through the watercolor.  Here is where S got a little distracted and began drawing faces all over her paper.  As I let her continue with her own artistic vision, I drew circles of all sizes and colors on my own paper.  I would recommend this as well.  When your child is done with the crayons.  Place the paint, brush, and cup with water out for them to use.  They will be painting on the same paper with the circles you drew with crayon.  Try to encourage your child to paint different colors inside of the circles.  However, if that is not their style, no need to worry.  The idea of this project is that the crayon will resist the watercolor paint and you will be able to see it through the watercolor paint.  Let your child continue to paint until they think their artwork is done.  Set aside to dry.

There you have it!  A simple project packed full of learning.  Of course this project could be done with any shape or letter.

Sweet Little Love Notes

I hadn't really discussed Valentine's Day too much with S.  She knew that it was a day that we are kind and loving to each other.  More of what she knew is that we send little notes to our friends to tell them we love them.  With the snow falling outside, the time seemed just right to pull out all of the crafting supplies and make those little love notes to our friends.  I didn't indulge her in the commercial store bought valentines.  Instead, I encouraged S to hand make each one.  And that she did.  She had a specific person in mind for each one she created.  I simply cut a square piece of paper for her and I let S's imagination do the rest.  With a table filled with stickers, markers, glue, and papers of all colors, she set to work on each little masterpiece.  We spent over an hour at the table as S put on stickers, wrote names and notes, colored little pictures for each of her friends.  In the days that followed, S continued to make little love notes to friends and family.  Finally, with a stack of about 15 valentines, we set off to the post office to mail each one to it's destination.  Each of those envelopes were filled with love.  Prior to that quiet, snowy morning, my feelings about Valentine's Day were luke warm at best, but as text messages of those who had received S's little love notes started coming in, my heart started to warm.  I love that a thoughtful little piece of art can change someone's whole day.  The crooked little heart that was made just for me still hangs on my fridge as a reminder of love.