Art with toddlers can be quite challenging. I have looked for different ways to incorporate open-ended art into our daily routine, but find it to be very hard. I need to give the children that sensory exploration, in a space that is made for mess. The key though is to be able to control it when the little ones are around. Dumping, tasting, and investigating is how little ones learn, so that means paint in the hair, belly button, floor, etc... as well as the water from the water table, sand from the sand box, glue from the glue bottle... ok, I think you get the picture :) Anyone who knows me, knows I don't mind mess. I don't mind cleaning up a mess... but with 3 little ones, it happens that while I am cleaning one up, the other 2 are creating messes I wouldn't have dreamed about. While I am cleaning up that mess... 2 more messes pop up on the other side of the room. I'm not talking paint only, it could be anything. I am making the effort to make messy fun available everyday, but it doesn't always happen.
I took out the easel this week. We painted great big pumpkins. It was a great experience for the little ones. Using the paintbrush, figuring out how to get it in the little opening on the paint pot, and then moving it on the whole sheet of paper (which didn't really happen without a lot of examples). But, they had a great time. Of course it was on their hands, on my floor, at the corners of their mouths from when I turned my back for a mila-second, and a little bit on the paper.
I also let the kids put sticker spiders onto their little marble painting webs. The little ones loved the stickiness of the stickers!! Another sensory experience they love.
I am going to try and get this art thing under control and make a messy area in the playroom. I think its time.
