Arts – Raising A to Z

Egg Catapult …and Splatter Art

April 19, 2019July 4, 2019

We love STEAM activities. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Whenever you can combine multiple subjects into a single activity, you activate whole brain learning, meaning you are making more connections and are more likely to remember the lessons they learn. And, when we can connect an activity to a season or holiday, it makes it all a little more real for our kids. This Easter, we decided to do something fun and launch some eggs with a catapult and we added a messy touch to it.

First, we built a catapult. It was easy enough, especially with the instructions on Little Bins for Big Hands. We used some tongue-depressors, a few rubber bans, and a plastic spoon. And then we filled some eggs with paint.

Filling eggs isn’t really that hard, but it is a little messy. We got a dozen eggs, something pointy and sharp (I had a cake decorating tool) and a skewer. At one end poke a hole roughly the size of a chickpea. Insert the skewer and mix up the contents of the egg. This allows you to empty the egg into a bowl. You can still use it to make some yummy scrambled eggs. Then, rinse the shells with a little water and fill them with paint. We used water-based paint that was pretty runny. If your paint is too thick, you can add a little water to the paint to make it runnier. Now you have eggs that are ready to smash.

We took the girls outside with a piece of craft paper and we started launching eggs. It was so much fun and a little messy. It really was a good thing that the paint was water-based because it washed off very easily.

After a few eggs the girls got a little excited and just wanted to throw the eggs, which was a lot of fun too. This was a really fun activity that combined engineering and art. We love S.T.E.A.M activities and this was a great festive, Easter activity. You really should try it!

Decorating Easter Eggs

April 12, 2019April 12, 2019

Growing up, decorating Easter eggs was an annual tradition. We tried all kinds of different kits and techniques as kids.

This is the first year that Alexie is really old enough to decorate the eggs. We decided to start with the classic approach and do a more traditional technique.

Last year, a few weeks after Easter, I was wandering through my local Michael’s craft store when I noticed a bin of discount bags. Each bag was filled with random Easter stuff and cost $10. I sifted through the bin until I found a bag that was worth my money. It had 6 Easter egg decorating kits as well as 2 cake pans (a cross and a bunny). Well for $10, I couldn’t pass it up. I stored the kits in a cool dry place until we were ready to use them this year.

I hard-boiled a dozen and a half eggs earlier in the day so they would be cool enough to work with, especially for little hands. We used some regular crayons to decorate the eggs with our own special designs. Then, following the instructions, we made the dye. We placed an egg into each cup of dye and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. We pulled them out and let them dry. Then we added either the shiny paint or the glitter to the eggs. These were the bonus items in the kits.

Decorating eggs may seem like a strange thing to do, but it’s actually very educational. We counted eggs and cups of dye, learned about colours and how dyes work. And then there’s the artistic side of things. The kids got to express themselves on an egg. It’s really the perfect blend of tradition and art.

Painting with Papa

March 23, 2019April 8, 2019

It takes a village to raise a child. Luckily, we aren’t afraid to ask for help.

The other day, Alexie wanted to do some painting. And she decided to call her grandpa, a retired art teacher to come over and paint with her. He happily agreed.

While he was over, he and the girls got busy painting. Papa talked about watercolor techniques. He showed them how to pick up the paint with their brush, how to use water properly and how to use color in a their art.

Watercolor Lessons for Preschooler with Papa

We’re so happy that Papa could come over to visit and I’m sure that he’ll be back to teach some more art lessons.

Pasta Wreath Ornaments

March 22, 2019April 8, 2019

We have a little holiday tradition. Every year, since Alexie was only a few months old, we’ve made a special homemade ornament. We make three ornaments, give one to each set of grandparents and keep one for ourselves as a little memory. We’ve made a couple different ornaments over the years, including salt dough handprints, monogramed blocks and glitter footprint balls.

This year we made some cute little fusilli pasta wreaths with a photo in the centre. They turned out so cute and were really easy to make!

Using a glue gun (and adult supervision) we glued some pasta around the edge of mason jar lid. Really you could use any firm circle shape. Then, we used some green spray paint to paint the whole thing green. Next, we cut out a picture to fit the hole in the middle and glued it in. Add a hook, and you’re good to go.

These ornaments were a hit with the grandparents this year. We know they loved the photo in the middle. And they’ll make a great keepsake on our own tree, year after year.

DIY Cinnamon Christmas Tree Ornaments

March 22, 2019April 8, 2019

This Christmas, we decided to make a few homemade ornaments. And, we got the girls involved! Alexie was happy to get messy and Zoé thought the dough tasted pretty good.

Using a mix of applesauce, cinnamon, cloves and ginger, we mixed up a little spicy dough that smells wonderful. We rolled it out and cut it out with some cute cookie cutters. Baked in the oven until they are hard, we strung them up with some string and placed them all over our Christmas tree.

This is a great hands-on activity for kids. It’s a great way to practise fine-motor skills, and baking is just real life chemistry! We love making our own ornaments as a little Christmas tradition and this was such a fun activity.

Senory Play with Snow

March 22, 2019April 8, 2019

Here in Canada, we get a lot of snow. But often it’s too cold for us to really get out there and explore it. So, sometimes, we bring the snow into our house instead!

A big bin of snow, some scoops and spoons and a towel is really all you need. And it is a load of fun. It’s a great sensory activity, allowing children to explore different textures and feelings. The snow feels cold, wet, soft, crunchy. This helps kids develop their curiosity and a love of exploration.

We also paint the snow! Adding a few drops of food colouring to a small cup of water and a paint brush are all you really need. We used primary colours and allowed the girls to not only paint the snow, but also see how the colours mix together and what colours they make. This is a great bonus activity.

And, the clean up on this activity is so easy. I just throw the bin of melted snow in the front yard, use the towel dry up the kids and any spills and that’s it! This simple activity entertained our two kids (preschooler and toddler) for almost an hour. So, it’s really a great activity that is cheap, easy and super entertaining for the little ones.

The Human Body: Naming Body Parts in French and English

March 7, 2019April 8, 2019

Today, we are combining biology, art and literacy in this fun STEAM activity, as we talk about the human body. Oh, and we do it in English and French!

Using a roll of craft paper and some markers, we laid Alexie down and traced around her whole body to make a life size poster.

Then we let her color different parts, and add details like eyes, noses and a mouth. While she adds details, mom and dad help her learn the names of the different parts of the body. As we label the poster, we make sure to include both the French and English names for each body part.

It was a fun activity that combines so many awesome subjects including biology, art and literacy. And it has an added benefit of letting the kids work on their bellies which is great for building core strength and stability. Bonus!