art group - marble painting

Our Toddlers, Twos, and Threes Art Group at the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library is back in action for the new year.  This week we marble painted, which is always a hit with grownups and children alike.  

Dumping the marble from a cup into the paint.  We liked using the spoon to transfer the marble from the paint tray to the box - it adds for a little extra fine motor control to the game.  Some friends liked to use their hands.  Everything goes at art group.  

Shake, Rattle and Roll.

Some friends liked to make it go super fast.  Others liked to watch it roll slowly from one corner to the next.  It is always fun to see each child interact so differently with the materials.

 Well, really I have to observe super quick because Abby is in and out of the art area in one minute or less and Eleanor is usually leading the way to climb UP the slide.

art group - homemade puffy paint

                           

Although I haven't been so good at posting weekly updates about art group we have been meeting and creating.  This week's project was puffy painted pumpkins.  Say that five times fast.

 Some friends liked using brushes.

Others wanted some help.  I love this picture of grandmother helping this sweet little girl.  She is just over a year old.

Can you guess who's this is???  The purple queen herself.  I like how you can see the puffiness in this picture.

And others wanted to feel it with their hands.  Emily and I both agreed this was the way to go!

Here is the recipe for Puffy Paint:

• 1 cup glue
• 1 cup shaving cream (maybe a little more)
• food coloring

Mix glue and shaving cream in a bowl.  Add food coloring.  Paint with a brush or scoop out with a spoon and finger paint.  This paint works best with cardboard or card stock.    

art group is up and running... and pretty awesome

Okay in my world, nothing is better than setting up art for little ones and then watching them go to town on the finger paint.

For some it was their first experience with paint.  Some were hesitant and did not want to touch the mysterious looking substance.  Some dove right in submerging their entire hands in the cool smooth paint.  It was equally thrilling (yes, thrilling to this former teacher) to watch both sets of children experience the finger painting process.

 It was also so much fun to watch the grown-ups interact with their children through the process.

So like any experience with young children, there was definitely some chaos and some kinks to work out (like rotating 25 children and their adults through an art space built for about 10), but for me, the first art group was a great success.  

I have to be honest.  I have not missed the ins and outs of teaching one day since I've been home with my two girls.  I am grateful for the experience, but I do not miss it.  Yet I realized today that I have missed planning and observing.  Yes, I plan for and observe my children aaaaaaall day, but there is something really special about getting to do that with a group of children.

I don't think Abby spent more than 3 minutes in the art area.  She was having a ball in the other areas of the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library... where the art group is taking place.  It is possibly the perfect place to have an art group.  There is a space for art and fun, developmentally appropriate *centers* to play before or after the art group - it looks like a very well thought out preschool.  There is even a designated area for snacking - love it.  

And here are the details of the Toddlers, Twos, and Threes Art Group.