Heart Paintings

I finally figured out how to change the settings on the camera back to JPEG and color settings! Now I know for next time. Deb called yesterday through Skype and Ethan loved playing "letter" games with her. I got these pictures while they were playing. She would hold up a letter in ASL and Ethan had to guess what it was.

He would scream the answer... I wonder how loud it was through the speakers of her computer. Cause it was deafening on this end. Super cute, though.

I think this was letter "G."

Today's craft was Heart Paintings. I pre-cut a heart out of white paper and dug out my heart cookie cutter from my collection. {If you don't have any cookie cutters you for sure need to go to Goodwill or garage sales and look for them! I use them almost everyday. I have been making the cutest sandwiches lately - little rabbit, cat, and horse ones are my favorite.} We then used red and pink paint to stamp our paper. I use recycled lids for our paint trays. I also laid down a shower curtain liner for our painting tarp. It makes for the easiest clean up! Plus my kitchen table is made from one piece of real wood and doesn't have a protective coating on it so... I really don't want to paint on it.

The tarp gives Ethan lots of room on the floor to create! Next time I will have paper already out so that if he wants to experience more I am more prepared. This morning I had to run and go get it quickly. He was sliding his hands on the paint enjoying the sensory. Very cool!

* Sensory Experiences are very important to develop young. Most learners are kinetic and need to touch things to help them learn best. I use to have preschoolers that had never touched paint because it was "messy." Let them get messy... just be prepared ahead of time to make it easier for you! I had rags with soap and water ready for clean up. Have a bucket of soap and water to add all the supplies when you're done. Also, add a squirt of soap to your paint to make clean up oh so much easier. It is easier for clean up to have a painting smock. If you don't have one it is easy to make one with a recycled athletic t-shirt.

I made this one for the preschool class I was teaching for Family Camp last summer. You just cut down the sides and at the seam on the top. I cut strips of fabric for the ties and used no-sew tape to attach them to the top and sides. You can also decorate it how you like; we just used our Bible verse for the lesson with an iron-on transfer. Well... now you have some craft ideas to do with your kids this weekend! Have fun!