Search Results for: blog fun with watercolors

Exploring Watercolors Like Only A Two Year Old Can

Today, we went to get Dylan some paint. I was thinking that we would get finger paints, so that he could use his hands and have fun getting messy. Unfortunately, the store that we went to did not have finger paint. I asked Dylan whether he wanted to wait until we went to a different store another day to get finger paint or whether he wanted to get a set of watercolors instead. He chose the watercolors and we brought them home. I set up a blanket on the lawn and used clothespins to secure the paper to it so … Continue reading →

Fun Ways to Cool Off

The summer heat wave continues to burn the East Coast of the United States, and things are not much cooler here in the Midwest. On the bright side, my home has never been so clean thanks to the fact that my daughter has spent so much time playing outside. Still, staying cool in the great outdoors is challenging when the mercury tops the century mark. If you are looking for ways to keep your kids cool during the current heat wave, then consider the following ideas: BODY PAINTING Have your kids dress in swimsuits and place finger paints or watercolors … Continue reading →

Week in Review – Fun

Are you ready for some fun with your family? Lots of parents dread birthday parties. Here are some ideas that show how Birthday Parties Can Be Fun. Read how to make flip books and the science behind why they work in Fun With Flip Books. Sometimes fun comes at unexpected times. Read about one of these in Errands, Cheese, World Records, and Slowing Down. Get out those paints and read about Fun With Watercolors and Fun Ideas for Things to Paint On and With. Next week we’ll have more crafts and other ideas for making every day a little fun.

Fun Ideas for Things to Paint On and With

Painting on rectangle shaped paper with plain old paintbrushes is fun, but there are so many other things you and your children can paint on and with! Consider paper shapes, a kite, a rain drop, or flower shape would all be great for this time of year. Craft paper comes in large rolls and only costs a few dollars. The kids can paint a mural or a custom painting for their bedroom doors. They can paint a life-sized version of themselves. Also think small. Business cards are great for painting. So are old greeting cards. Scrounge around the kitchen. I … Continue reading →

Fun With Watercolors

Watercolor paints are a favorite with a lot of parents because they aren’t as messy as regular paints. There are a lot more reasons than that to love them. Watercolors are actually a very versatile paint. The trouble is that most watercolors sold for children, like the kind attached to coloring books, aren’t very good paints. You can get some nice basic paints from the craft store that cost a bit more, but aren’t expensive, and will last a long time. Also, coloring books aren’t a very good surface for watercolors. Artist quality watercolor paper is very expensive, but you … Continue reading →

Winter Family Fun in Chicago

In my previous blog I listed some of the spectacular outdoor activities that await you in Chicago this winter. I failed to mention that the city also offers a host of family friendly events for those of you who can only tolerate the cold for a short period of time (that would be me). I can’t stand the cold (being born and raised in Hawaii does that to a person), but my love for Chicago outweighs my distaste for Mother Nature’s brutal winter assault so my family makes the trip no matter what the weather. We just stick to the … Continue reading →

Mother Does Not Always Know Best

As parents, we often feel that we know what is best for our children. While we certainly do know what is healthy and safe for them, sometimes they know more than we do about what they need at any given time. Dylan reminds me of this at least once every day. You see, sometimes he tells me that he needs something and I brush it off. I take the usual route of assuming that I know what he really needs and I proceed in the direction of my assumption. A few minutes or a few hours later, I realize that … Continue reading →

Keeping An Art Journal

Notebooks are a wonderful way to keep track of science, language arts, history, creative writing, and other assignments. It keeps things neat and tidy, and there aren’t loose papers all over the place. I quickly discovered that having one big three-ring binder filled with notebook paper and dividers just didn’t work out well. The papers often tore out and they were heavy and clumsy for my kids to use. Instead, by purchasing color-coded notebooks and writing each child’s name on the front with a big permanent ink marker, it kept things more organized. My kids didn’t feel as overwhelmed as … Continue reading →

Lessons Learned The Hard Way: Avoid Oil Paints

I’m a pretty laid back person and encourage my children to always try new things. Not much irritates me or has made me fret over how white my carpets are or how clean the floors are. This peaceful aura was only accomplished after having raised five daughters, mostly on my own. However, several years ago we tried an art project that made me wish I had a time machine that would transport us back to the day before I conceived this bright idea. A fan of the Charlotte Mason method, I loved teaching my children about classical music, books, and … Continue reading →

Super Bowl XLII: What to Know Before You Go–Other Offerings

For the past few days I have been examining the options Super Bowl fans have in Phoenix as they prepare for the NFL’s biggest game of the season. In previous blog I covered everything from dining options to party places and everything in between. There is no doubt that in a few days Phoenix will be (at least temporarily) the hippest, hottest place in the nation. The super big Super Bowl crowds will likely displace the many snowbirds that flock to Arizona each winter, but I’m sure city and state leaders could careless. In the place of the repeat visitors … Continue reading →