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Art In The Outdoors
Monday, July 11, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
If you have been reading this blog long enough (thank you!), then you will know that I'm a Midwest girl. This means that my kiddo and I are soaking up every fun-in-the-sun moment that we can. It won't be long until we're back to the cold, gray days of winter. Sigh.
In the meantime, I'm always looking for activities that will keep us outdoors. With little kids, variety is the spice of life; attention spans and interest-levels in an activity may sometimes be short, which means days can sometimes seem long.
Visual arts (i.e. painting, drawing, sculptures, etc.) provide unlimited ways for little ones to explore, and learn about, the world around them. Arts activities are also great for fine (small) motor development and sensory explorations. As always, start with non-toxic, washable mediums (paints, chalks or crayons), dress for the mess, and enjoy the process rather than the product (in other words, don't be worried about what is created, enjoy the process of creation).
What to do on a beautiful summer day? Take your art outdoors!
Watercolors are wonderful! We have a stack of rocks on our patio, and I can't recall how many times these rocks have been painted. It's one of our favorite activities. Watercolors combined with a variety of brushes (big or little, fat or thin), make for an activity that provides interest and always results in a new outcome. Gather some rocks and get to work!
Sidewalk chalk is better than crayons for a day in the sun (or shade); chunky chalks work best for little hands. Want to change it up? Dip the chalk in water for cool, fun, and bright colors.
Outdoor art collages! Bring on the glue (after all, you can easily get the hose out when you are done!); glue objects (i.e. leaves, flowers, seeds, and any other outdoor objects you might find) onto big paper to create your own art.
Try a new canvas! Don't worry about paper blowing away; summer is a great time to explore Mother Nature's canvas. Create art on brick, concrete or even the grass, just make sure you're using a washable medium (i.e. paint!).
What is your little artist exploring these days?
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