tools

the kids here LOVE to paint

they love to explore with different tools

they love just mixing, stamping, scraping, and

so much more!

I had picked up a few tools last week

and let the kiddos take them outside and test them out

we sprayed 

we sponged

 we dabbed

 we did a little of everything

we made a big mess

after the mess i grabbed a few photos of what each tool made

 picked up these soft scrub sponges at Hyvee (our local grocery store) for a dollar
they made a neat flower looking design

 at Walgreens I found these travel brushes 2 for a dollar
they were fun to just dot with or to scrap and brush along your paper

 sponges from the dollar bin
I pretty sure most people have painted with a type of sponge before
I love to buy the large sponges and then cut them up to different sizes or shapes
I feel like I get a lot for my money when I buy the bigger ones

and finally there is the spray bottle

I added a little paint and a little water to the bottle

this was the kids FAVORITE!

my kids LOVE LOVE LOVE spray bottles

this was my least favorite, it was a little windy and the spray kinda went everywhere

and it left the papers very wet (because there was water and because the kids kept spraying, and spraying and spraying!!)

overall the kids really did enjoy exploring the different painting tools

and I would say these are a new favorites for us

What are your favorite painting tool?

the dirty kid and some sidewalk chalk paint

That was a LONG title

(i apologize now this is a long post with a lot of pics!)

First off sidewalk chalk paint

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

add this to your 

"things i need to do this summer" list

your kids will thank you!

"my" kids said 

"this is the best day ever!"

(didn't think i would hear that pharse considering the morning we had!)

equal parts corn starch and water

add food coloring 

(i used LOTS!)

NEEDS to be stirred well!!!

I made a big batch and then poured into muffin trays and then added the food coloring!

You will need paint brushes as well!

Then set outside and let the kids paint the sidewalk!

This was a SERIOUS hit!!

we also dipped our chalk into bowls of water 

and wrote with it

gives a bright color

and draws smoother!

dip dip dip dip, oh forgot I was suppose to be painting

dip dip dip dip

what are we doing again...

we had multiple bowls of all different colors scattered over the driveway!

the kids were sooo busy painting, splattering!

(i did remind parents to send "junk clothes" so i didn't ruin anything nice!)

some of our creations

the color wasn't as bright as I had hoped

but there is another chalk paint recipe I hope to try out later this summer

when one child makes a square...they ALL make squares!

i love how they squat into their positions!

doesn't matter if it spills because its sooo easy to just make more!!

we had lots of spills because of a certain toddler!

busy busy busy!

 last night my husband commented that

I am giving my readers a bad impression of our son/or my parenting 

he is "the dirty kid"

You know what I am talking about

that kid that goes into a white room that is spotless 

but manages to come out covered in dirt and mud.

that is my son!

he is "the dirty kid"

he will hopefully be very proud of that title someday!

but for now

I apologize to his future teachers

this picture gives no justice to how dirty this kid was! 

he was the toddler spilling EVERYTHING

then sitting in it

but...

he was the happiest toddler EVER

and that is saying a lot considering we call him

grumpa lumpa

My husband will frown at this post and how dirty his son is 

but my thought is

HE IS HAPPY

LET HAPPY BE!!

he is not hurting anyone or anything 

(other than maybe a pair of pants and a couple shirts)

so go out get some cornstrach, paint brushes (i used wider brushes so kids could see results quicker)

and some food coloring and let your kids paint the sidewalk!

anyone else out there have "the dirty kid"?

it is like someone threw up rainbow on my kitchen table

i don't even know where that title came from

but its the thought that crossed my mind 

when I took this picture

and this isn't even all of the pictures that were created!

We did a little rainbow free art

I provided the kids with different materials

paper, pom poms, buttons, sequence, jewels, crayons, 

scissors, and glue

and then I set the materials on the table and just let the kids GO WILD!

i love putting the materials on a separate table

its fun for the kids to get up and move around 

and it frees space up on the working tables so kids have more room to work!

this is the face of a kid that just took a giant bite of a gluestick and said "mmmmmmmmmmmmm"

(if you look close you can see it all over the bottom of his teeth)

don't worry I pinned him down and scrapped it out!

FUN TIMES!

the thing I hear the most of when we do projects

"Jill do you like my picture!"

to which the kids will hear

IT'S FABULOUS!!!

I love the way you glued all those different color stripes on your paper!

can you tell me about your picture?

(i use that one when I have no idea whats going on and don't want to hurt their feelings, works like a charm my friends!)

you are the such a creative little genius!

I use a lot more comments depending on the project and what the kids have created

The reason I am sharing this with you is because I want to encourage all of you

not to just to say

"good job" or "way to go" 

"beautiful picture" or "Its fabulous" 

("its fabulous" is my favorite)

I challenge all of you to talk about your child's photos 

let them tell you the story that is behind their creation

sometimes you might hear

"i don't know!" and they walk away

and thats ok, but if you keep asking you will be amazed 

at the language your kids are using!

so...

no more good jobs, and nice pictures

talk about those projects!

The End!

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