A few weeks ago I started what was to become affectionately known in our house as ‘Young Scientists at Play’. This was one hour on a Monday for my two younger daughters to play at being scientists. The theme was colour and the learning was open-ended and all about discovery. Well, during these one hour slots, it was me that discovered something. My two-year old was utterly absorbed. Prior to this, I’m not sure she had done anything, apart from cry, for longer than 30 seconds. B2 has been a tricky baby, and home-schooling with her around has called on some creative measures and a very supportive husband! However, this one hour of peace gave me food for thought and I came up with a few other possibilities for a one hour slot at the same time every morning. Last week I tried out one of them and whilst it required a little more in the way of clear up afterwards, it was well worth it.
I wanted something which would be:
- Exploratory
- Open-ended
- Replicable on a weekly basis
- Frugal
- Lasting about 1 hour
This is what I came up with:
But this is just glorified mess making, I hear you cry; painting got out of hand! Ah, but it is the possibilities which entrance me, rather than the simple paint. I’m thinking spray bottles, squirty bottles, icing bags, coloured bubbles, using straws to blow paint, adding glitter to the paint, adding glue and glitter to the paint, thickening the paint with flour and using basic kitchen utensils to apply it to the paper, collage painting with added bits, using pipettes to paint with….and with only my imagination to limit us, lots of fun will be had by all! I’m also going to play about with some paint recipes to make my own, hopefully a little less expensive given the sheer quantities we’re likely to get through. And I’ll be using everyday stuff from around the house to print, stamp, stick, mark and generally explore.
It will be so much more than simple mess making. Using everyday things from around the house, they will learn by discovery, how things work and what things do. So many possibilities! So much fun to be had!
As someone with more than a thin line of creativity running through my DNA… I LOVE this idea! Brilliant! I love your ideas and even if it was just glorified mess-making… They had fabulously creative, colourful,sensory play and were totally absorbed… Never a waste of time or resources. I saw a ‘recipe’ on pinterest I think… For homemade paints? I shall try and find it for you!
Thank you, and the recipe would be great!
Fantastic idea! So great that it actually worked for keeping your 2 year old absorbed, too.
I need some other ideas for the remaining 3 days. I’m thinking model making out of rubbish and flour and water glue. Not sure what else yet though!
This is a great idea. I’ve been considering something like this, but outside in the driveway when the weather gets warmer.
Yes, outside seems a good idea to limit the mess!
Lets hope they don’t get any ideas of painting their room
It would save us a job, I s’pose!
Exploration, rather than specific result, is the best thing for the youngsters. 🙂
So true. What I really wanted was to find something with longevity. Activities seem to last a couple of minutes tops at that age, so this is a keeper in that it lasted much longer!
A2 looked rather like my kids would have, even at this age.
Yeah, my older ones are pretty messy too. A4, however, really isn’t. They’re all different aren’t they?