Make do with what you have

Sometimes I have time to plan a special project for my littles at home, but more often than not, I am in need of a quick, economical, and fun way to get their hands and minds busy making and creating.  Most of the projects we undertake in Art in Motion classes are simple and use materials that you probably already have on hand.  Not only does this make it possible for parents to easily set up an art project, it also shows kids that you don't have to purchase fancy materials to create wonderful pieces of art.  Here are some of my favorite materials to use.  My kids and my students at Art in Motion love to paint, so all the materials are used with paint, but you could also use them with tape, glue, yarn, etc.

--Q-Tips make such great mini paint brushes!  Something about their size is just perfect for little hands to work on detailed lines and brush strokes.  Kiddos can use them to make dots, dots, and more dots, or to make lovely, sweeping lines across the paper.  I keep the paper small as well, as the Q-Tips tend to be used to cover a small amount of space.

--Pencil erasers are another fun way to print circles, and, similar to the Q-Tips, really help kids work on those fine lines and little dots.

--Balloons are bouncy fun when used with paint!  Just blow up the balloons with a small amount of air so little hands can hold them easily without popping the balloon, dip in paint, and print on paper.  The results are lovely prints!

--Who doesn't have tons of paper towel tubes sitting around in the recycling bin?  These are the perfect go-to printing tool, and making circles all over a piece of paper is infinitely satisfying.

--Use a brush, but change the painting surface.  Try aluminum foil, wax paper, mirrors, or even egg cartons!

No paint in the art cupboard?  Make your own with this simple recipe!

Homemade Paint 

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup water

Food coloring or liquid watercolors

Stir the flour and salt together.  Add water and blend until very smooth.  Add food coloring of choice.  You can vary the amount of water to achieve a thick or thin paint.

Next session of Art in Motion: April-June

Well, hopefully Spring really is right around the corner!  We have been having a great time exploring new art materials, learning new dances and songs, and making new friends.  I am reminded during Art in Motion classes of this quote by Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio-Emilia schools in Italy: "Nothing without joy."  There is such joy in making and moving, and I am so happy to be a part of the joy that is present when children and parents come together in a creative space.

The next session runs for seven weeks  and the cost is $80.  If you can't commit to a full session, drop-in classes are an option when space is available.  Drop-in classes are $12/child.

All classes are held at Bluebird Studios in New Bedford.  Classes are at 10:30am and last about an hour.

The dates for the sessions are:

Tuesdays: April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10

Wednesdays: April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11

Thursdays: May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12

Fridays: May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13

You can contact me at decemberbluebird@gmail.com and let me know what session you are interested in taking.  Please feel free to pass this information on to a friend!

Thanks,

Benares

Make Your Own Paint!

Homemade Paint 

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup water

Food coloring or liquid watercolors

Stir the flour and salt together.  Add water and blend until very smooth.  Add food coloring of choice.  You can vary the amount of water to achieve a thick or thin paint.

Why make your own paint?

Besides being a fun activity in and of itself, making your own paint (or any art material!) is a rewarding experience.  You probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen cupboard, and it's great for kids to see that it's easy to be resourceful and use what you have to create a work of art.  It's economical to make your own paint, and a great way for kids to learn about the interaction of ingredients.  Making your own art materials encourages kids to "tinker"; that is,

they have the opportunity to play with measurements and see first hand what happens when you add more water, less salt, and so on.  It's also great to know that this is a non-toxic, safe recipe.  And what could be simpler than flour, salt, and water?

How to keep your toddler and your newborn happy while staying indoors for much of a very long winter...

Recently a friend wrote to me for a little assistance.  Her husband needed some quick and clever ways to keep a busy almost-two year old happy while also tending to their three month old baby.  Did I mention that it's mid-February and we've all been inside a bit too much this very long winter?  Anyway, I was in the exact same position a year ago: my daughter could have handled longer outdoor sessions, but they just weren't possible with a newborn baby.  So here are a few of the ideas that worked to keep us all happy last winter.

1. Playdough.  I am a huge fan of playdough, especially since making your own batch is quick, easy, economical, and is part of the fun!  You can read my previous post for a recipe to make your own!  Also, I recently discovered that a squirt or two of lemon juice can substitute for the cream of tarter.

2. Cleaning.  Seriously, you just read that correctly!  My little ones love to clean with me, and while it sometimes makes my job a tad more difficult, ultimately they do a pretty good job of tidying up.  My three year old loves wiping down kitchen cabinets and tables with a spray bottle (I use a little vinegar and water inside).  And my 17 month old has a real love affair with our broom!  Put on some fun music and get out the feather duster; kids love to help with real work.

3. Water play.  There are lots of ways to make water a fun ( and not too messy!) indoor activity.  My daughter often takes "fun baths", in other words a bath just for play time.  I also have a small water table that I bring into the bathroom and both kids love using it for tiny plastic animals and other bath toys.  You don't really need a fancy water table; sometimes I just a big pot filled with a small amount of water.  Put it on top of a towel or two, and clean-up is really easy--almost like mopping the floor!

4. Make a mess!  Yes, sometimes making a mess is just the best way to involve a young mind!  As long as you don't mind doing a little extra clean-up, it's really great to get out flour, salt, water, baking soda, cornstarch, etc. and let the experiments begin!  I usually cover the table or the floor with a towel or old sheets and give out small amounts of ingredients to encourage more thoughtful play.  (You can even see baby brother making his way towards the experiment container in this photo!)

5. Do you keep a few boxes of old toys stored in a closet somewhere?  Bring them out for an old toy party!  The old toys will feel new to your little one; it's even fun to go through old baby toys or clothes together and talk about memories, especially if you have a new baby in the house.

6. Shaving cream finger painting.  My daughter LOVES doing this!  It's not my favorite activity, honestly, because I don't really care for the smell of shaving cream, but it's simple and fun, and definitely keeps her engaged.  And as long as you keep it on a tray, clean-up is easy.  Some people even do this directly on the wall of the bathtub!

7. And here's my personal favorite invention--I can't really take the credit, as it was all Little Pea's idea. Musical chairs with a toddler, two baby dolls, a stuffed owl, and a three month old in a bouncy seat.  I ran the music and we played this for a loooooooong time.  And it was a great time, if only because it is awesomely hilarious to play musical chairs this way!

Playing with play dough!

Here is the playdough recipe I use.  I love working with playdough for so many reasons.  Children need to explore their world through their sense of touch, and playdough provides this important opportunity.  Working with playdough is great for fine motor skills as well.  Those little fingers get quite the workout when pushing, pulling, rolling, kneading, and sculpting with playdough!  My kids love using "loose parts" with their playdough; try adding straws, bread ties, bits of string, beads, plastic lids...all those odds and ends from the recycling bin or the junk drawer are tons of fun when added to a playdough sculpture, and using loose parts really encourages a child's imagination and ingenuity.  I read recently that the best toys are 10% toy and 90% child, or, put another way, the best toys are the ones that can become anything at any time, depending on what game the child is playing.  Playdough certainly fits this model.  Enjoy the recipe and have fun!

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

2.5 tsp. cream of tarter

2 cups cold water

Food coloring

Mix all the ingredients together in a large pot.  Cook over low/medium heat until the ingredients come together and form and stiff dough.  Stir constantly to prevent the mixture from burning.  When the dough is done, remove from heat and knead well.  You can add the food coloring before or after cooking, or add glitter, flower petals, fresh herbs, cinnamon, etc.  The dough will keep for several months stored in an airtight container.

March and April 2014 Art in Motion Sessions!

Hello everyone!

I hope you all are staying warm and cozy!  I am happy to let you know about the next sessions of Art in Motion beginning at the end of February.  It's not too early to sign up!  I recently added a Thursday session, and all three sessions filled very quickly last time, so let me know if you are interested.  I am always grateful to be able to spend time with you and your children.  I wholeheartedly believe in the power of music, movement, and the creative making process, and I love seeing your children discover so many ways in which to express themselves.

The next session runs for 7 weeks and the cost is $80.  If you can't commit to a full session, drop-in classes are an option when space is available; drop-in classes are $12/child.

All classes are held at Bluebird Studios in New Bedford.

The dates for the sessions are:

Tuesdays: February 25, March 4,11, 18, 25 and April 1, 8

Thursdays: February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10

Fridays: February 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11

Please let me know which session you are interested in, and feel free to pass on this information to a friend or two!

Thank you!

Benares

January and February 2014 class schedule

Hello everyone!

It's time to sign up for 2014 Art in Motion classes!  The next session is six weeks and will include lots of music, more of  that old-timey contra dancing that we've all been loving, and super fun art projects that truly support your child's creativity and passion for open ended exploration!  The classes have been well attended lately, and I want to say thank you to everyone who has passed the word on to friends and family members!  It is so helpful to have so many if you supporting me in this adventure!  I love sharing art and music with you and your children.

Here is the schedule.  Let me know which day you would like to attend and I can save you a spot.

Tuesdays

January 7, 14, 21, 28, and February 4, 11

Fridays

January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7, 14 

All classes are at 10:30am.

$70 for session--payable by cash, check, or Paypal.