So who is ready for summer!!? My children aren't even in school yet but I'm already in high gear. The schools around us are already out so we've been able to stay reasonably busy with play dates and trips to the pool.... which is an inflatable one in our backyard! (oh, how I dream of a real pool in our own backyard... one day, one day!)
But even though I love having my kids run around in the sprinkler, exerting energy and having fun being "kids," there are times (or rainy days) that I need some inside stuff for them to do too. So welcome to the first installment of my "Kids Summer Fun Series."
I am in no way the mother that is always neat and tidy and won't allow any mess. In fact, I'm just the opposite! I still remember pulling back our throw rug and letting my 2 yr old daughter finger paint all over the hardwood floor (on paper.... sort of). My grandmother couldn't believe it! "You are letting her paint ON the floor!!??" she said. Ummmm, yep!!
So normally I'm totally game for finger painting. I mean, it's lots of fun, right? But I'm getting kind of lazy in my old age, or maybe just tired from the lack of sleep.... but I've seen this idea floating around in the blogosphere, so I decided to try it out for ourselves.
Just take a ziplock bag (mine were freezer, which I think helps because they are thicker) and squirt in some paint. I guess tempura would be ideal, but I didn't have any so I used acrylic from my crafting stash. Then I used painters tape and taped the bag over a white piece of computer paper (so you can see the drawings and because my table is dark) to the kitchen table. (Before you tape, try to get as much air out of the bag as you can) Easy Schmeezy.
Then I called the kiddo's over and let them at it.
They loved it, perfect for little hands! My daughter loved writing her name, doing drawings and anything else she could come up with. My son just liked the feel of it. And later on, I was on the phone with my mom and found myself doodling around. You know what? It's actually a lot of fun!
I thought ahead and put these at the seats we don't sit at (our table seats 8 and we only use 4) so they were used for several days. This project was a definite winner!
This would be a great and fun thing to help practice writing or identifying letters, shapes, animals- the possibilities are endless!
But even though I love having my kids run around in the sprinkler, exerting energy and having fun being "kids," there are times (or rainy days) that I need some inside stuff for them to do too. So welcome to the first installment of my "Kids Summer Fun Series."
I am in no way the mother that is always neat and tidy and won't allow any mess. In fact, I'm just the opposite! I still remember pulling back our throw rug and letting my 2 yr old daughter finger paint all over the hardwood floor (on paper.... sort of). My grandmother couldn't believe it! "You are letting her paint ON the floor!!??" she said. Ummmm, yep!!
So normally I'm totally game for finger painting. I mean, it's lots of fun, right? But I'm getting kind of lazy in my old age, or maybe just tired from the lack of sleep.... but I've seen this idea floating around in the blogosphere, so I decided to try it out for ourselves.
Just take a ziplock bag (mine were freezer, which I think helps because they are thicker) and squirt in some paint. I guess tempura would be ideal, but I didn't have any so I used acrylic from my crafting stash. Then I used painters tape and taped the bag over a white piece of computer paper (so you can see the drawings and because my table is dark) to the kitchen table. (Before you tape, try to get as much air out of the bag as you can) Easy Schmeezy.
Then I called the kiddo's over and let them at it.
They loved it, perfect for little hands! My daughter loved writing her name, doing drawings and anything else she could come up with. My son just liked the feel of it. And later on, I was on the phone with my mom and found myself doodling around. You know what? It's actually a lot of fun!
I thought ahead and put these at the seats we don't sit at (our table seats 8 and we only use 4) so they were used for several days. This project was a definite winner!
This would be a great and fun thing to help practice writing or identifying letters, shapes, animals- the possibilities are endless!
Seriously? You're like the Creative Queen of mothers.
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