The Preschooler’s Busy Book (13 page)

Blindfold

Crayons or markers

Paper

Place a blindfold on your child, then have her draw on paper with crayons or markers.
When her drawing is complete, remove the blindfold and take turns looking for hidden shapes or objects in the picture.

Tree bark

Crayons, pens, or paint

Go for a walk and collect tree bark.
At home, use crayons, pens, or paint to draw pictures on the bark.
Talk about how people used tree bark before paper was invented, and how paper comes from trees.

Painting is a wonderful outlet for a child’s creativity.
Large pieces of paper, pots of paint in vivid colors, big paintbrushes, and a painter’s smock will keep your little artist happy on many a rainy afternoon.
Provide a good work space, keep supplies handy, and make cleanup part of the project.
Work outdoors when you can, and let nature provide further inspiration.

The best kind of paint for young children is poster paint, also known as tempera paint, which you can buy at any art store in premixed liquid form or as a powder that must be mixed with water.
You can also make your own poster paint using the recipes in
Appendix A
.
Children rarely need more than three colors: red, blue, and yellow.
Teach your child how to mix these colors to create others.
Tempera blocks are also available; they are practical because they don’t have to be diluted and can’t be spilled, making cleanup easier.
In addition, tempera blocks are economical, since they are less expensive and last a very long time; however, your child will probably not find them as fun as the slick liquid paints.

Paper can be purchased from an art supply store, but consider some of the following alternatives.
Newsprint is a wonderful paper for painting; roll-ends can be purchased cheaply from a newspaper publisher.
Visit your local printer and ask if you can leave an empty box for a week or two; she may agree to fill it with all kinds of wonderful paper that
would otherwise be discarded.
Try fine sandpaper as an alternative art paper for a wonderful effect.
For fingerpainting, use the shiny side of freezer paper that can be purchased at the grocery store.
It is much cheaper than special fingerpaint paper and works just as well.

String up a line in the laundry room or kitchen to hang paintings to dry.
Wet artwork can be attached to the line with clothespins.
When dry, be sure to display your child’s paintings prominently.
And think of creative uses for some of her work; many painting projects make wonderful gift wrap or greeting cards.

Bowl

Liquid starch

Liquid detergent

Paper or plastic cloth

Powdered tempera paint

Mix a small amount of detergent with liquid starch in a bowl and pour the mixture onto a painting surface, such as a tabletop, paper, or plastic cloth.
Sprinkle powdered tempera paint over the starch, and let your child experiment with mixing colors.

Paper towel

Bowls of diluted food coloring or strong watercolors

Have your child fold a piece of paper towel into a fairly small packet.
Have her dip each corner of the packet into a bowl of colored dye (diluted food coloring or strong watercolors).
Use a different color for each corner.
Unfold the paper towel and hang to dry.
You can use various types of paper; the more absorbent the paper, the faster the dye will spread.
Dipped rice paper makes a nice gift wrap, but it is fairly expensive.

Fingerpaints

Paper

Fingerpainting is a wonderfully messy adventure that every child should experience after about the age of two (younger, if you can stand it!).
Unfortunately, it can be a frustrating experience for parents, as the amount of work required to set up and clean up never seems to merit the five minutes (or less) most children will spend at this activity!
That said, be prepared for a great big mess, and make sure your child wears an art smock.
Wet the paper first to allow the paint to slide better, drop a blob of paint on the paper, and let your child go to it.
Commercial fingerpaints can be bought, or make your own using the recipes in
Appendix A
.

Paper

Tempera paint, liquid

String or yarn

Drop some paint onto a piece of paper and let your child make a design by dragging string through the paint and around the paper.
Try it again by dipping the string in the paint and dragging it across the paper.
Use different types and lengths of string and yarn for varying effects.

Bowl

Tempera paint, liquid

Liquid starch

String

Paper

For this activity, mix liquid paint and liquid starch in equal parts in a bowl.
Dip some string into the paint/starch solution and drop it onto a sheet of paper.
When the paint dries, the starch will make the string stick to the paper.

Paper or a cut-open brown paper bag

Tempera paint, liquid

Eyedropper, spoon, or straw

On a big sheet of paper or a cut-open brown paper bag, have your child drip liquid tempera paints using an eyedropper, spoon, or straw.
Tip the paper in different directions to make a design.
Drip another color and tip the paper again for an interesting result.

Paper

Tempera paint

Eydropper, spoon, or straw

Empty squeeze bottle

Have your child drop some paint onto a piece of paper and disperse it by squeezing air onto it with an empty squeeze bottle.
She can also do this by blowing on the paint through a wide plastic tube or straw.
If you like, add a second and third color.
You can also try different types of paper for different effects.

Newspaper

Liquid dishwashing detergent

Shallow dish

Tempera paint

Straw

Construction paper or other paper

Cover your child’s work surface with newspaper.
Pour a quarter cup liquid dishwashing detergent into a shallow dish.
If you use powdered tempera paint, mix a small amount of water with the paint.
Add the paint mixture or liquid tempera to the dishwashing liquid until the color is intense.
Place one end of a straw into the mixture, and blow until the bubbles are almost billowing over the edge of the dish.
Gently place a piece of construction paper or other paper on top of the bubbles and hold it in place until several bubbles have popped.
Continue this process with different colors, blowing more bubbles as needed.
To make a unique greeting card, use a piece of construction paper folded in half.
When dry, your child can add drawings to the picture and sign her name.

Thin cardboard

Scissors

Paper

Tape

Sponge or brush

Tempera paint, liquid

Draw a design, letter, or animal shape on thin cardboard.
Cut out the inside of the shape to make the stencil, and tape the stencil onto a sheet of paper.
Show your child how to dip a sponge or brush into liquid tempera paint, then fill in the inside of the stencil with color.
When finished, remove the tape and lift off the stencil to see the design.

Newspaper

Paper or a cut-open brown paper bag

Tempera paint, liquid

Plant sprayer

For this activity you will want to prepare your work area well.
Lay down lots of newspaper, and be prepared to offer close supervision.
Place some paper or cut-open brown paper bags on the newspaper.
Pour some thin paint into a plant sprayer and let your child spray it onto the paper.
Use several different colors, and when the paper is dry, you will have some great gift wrap.

Balloons of various sizes

Tempera paint, liquid

Paper

Blow up balloons of various sizes and tie the ends.
Hold onto the tied end, dip the balloon into liquid tempera paint, and blot it onto a sheet of paper.
The resulting artwork can be displayed on the wall or used as unique gift wrap.

Newspaper

Butcher or fingerpaint paper

Tempera paint or fingerpaint, liquid

Warm, soapy water in a bucket

Towel

Rubber boots or tennis shoes (optional)

Cover your floor with newspaper, then spread large sheets of butcher or fingerpaint paper on the newspapers, glossy side up.
Pour about a quarter cup liquid tempera paint or fingerpaint onto the paper.
Encourage your barefooted child to walk, stamp, and slide her feet through the paint to make different effects.
Have a bucket of warm, soapy water and a towel ready for cleanup.
For a variation, have your child wear rubber boots or tennis shoes.

Marbles

Tempera paint, liquid

Paper

Flat box

Place a piece of paper into a flat box (like the box from a 24-pack of soda).
Have your child drop marbles into various colors of tempera paint, then drop them into the box and roll them across the paper.
Or drop some paint onto the paper and have your child roll the marbles across the paint.

Eyedropper

Tempera paint, liquid

Paper

Show your child how to use an eyedropper and some liquid tempera paint to drop paint onto paper to make a picture.
Use different colors, if you like, and be sure to put the painting on display when dry.

Toothpicks

Tempera paint, liquid

Paper

Glue

Give your child toothpicks to dip into tempera paint and use as a paintbrush.
When the paint dries, she can glue the toothpicks onto her painting for a three-dimensional effect.

Empty roll-on deodorant bottle

Tempera paint, liquid

To make a giant paint pen for your child, pry off the top of a roll-on deodorant bottle.
Fill the bottle with liquid tempera paint, and snap on the top.
Your child can use this tool to draw pictures, practice her letters and numbers, or create abstract designs.