I am hearing from people with young children that this summer may finally be "normal". After two years of social distancing, playing at home and being careful of the environment you took your children to, we're ready for some fun! While some children may be at camps, others will be at home, looking for things to do.
I'm all about creativity--putting items in a child's hands that lets them use their imagination. I always loved those projects where the kids could help from start to finish. Our friends at the Children's Museum of Evansville do their painting using ice cube trays and popsicle sticks to make the painting more manageable, and in some cases, less messy. I found a homemade child-friendly paint recipe on-line that could be used for this type of painting or good old fashioned finger painting (courtesy of funcheaporfree.com). Children can help measure. An adult should supervise the cooking portion but then, once it's cooled, turn them loose!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1/3 cup Corn Starch
- 1/4 cup Clear Liquid Dish Soap
- 2 cups Cold Water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix sugar and corn starch together in a pan over low heat. Slowly add in cold water.
- Cook over low heat, stirring often until it becomes like a clear liquid gel. (About 5 minutes.)
- Remove from heat and let the mixture cool.
- Once cool, stir in dishwashing liquid.
- Divide into containers and add food coloring.
As far as what to paint on, be aware of those paper-based items in your home that you might normally throw away or recycle. We all seem to have home deliveries lately, keep those empty boxes. Open them up flat and there's your canvas! The brown paper used to stuff those boxes--keep it! Newspaper, junk mail, brown grocery bags are all good. I have a friend who keeps wrapping paper and has a box available for art projects at a moment's notice.
Summer fun shouldn't be expensive. Think about co-opting with friends or neighbors to save items needed. Share! Have an arts day in your yard.
Let us know if you use this recipe--we'd love to see the results!
