“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Picasso
I love helping my kids think outside of the box particular one of my kids who has a really hard time doing that. Encourage creative play by giving them flowers and other natural elements to serve as their paintbrush.
“Me gusta pintar. Me gusta pintar, mami,” my little man says this with a big smile on his face. I respond, “Yes, I know you love to paint.” My 2 year old is so very happy when he gets to make a mess with paint. Remember to buy paint that is washable if you have little excited painters.
I remember when one of my boys’ teachers came to me with a concern, “Your son keeps painting the trees blue, orange… and I can’t put his picture up on the bulletin board because he’s not following directions.” She showed me his picture. I looked at it, and this artistic mama couldn’t have been prouder. It was absolutely lovely. ¡Lindísimo!
I looked at her and I said, “I am sorry, it’s really hard for me to be upset at him for not following directions when the picture in your hand is absolutely amazing for a little 5-year-old. I will talk to him about learning to follow directions, but there is nothing wrong with his picture. A tree doesn’t have to be brown and green it can be blue, orange, yellow… and his sun can be purple.” Unfortunately for my son, he had two teachers back to back when he was younger discourage his creativity — his artistic side. He is now nine and his trees are verde and café. It makes me sad.
I still haven’t given up though and I continue to give my boys opportunities to be creative with their hands. Sometimes they would rather run around pretending they are policemen and super cowboys shooting at each other, but I must say any kind of imaginative play makes me happy.
So before trashing your wilted flowers, give them another use!
Painting with Flowers
What you will need:
- paint in different colors
- flowers (I used my flowers that were wilting)
- paper
1. Place paint on a surface that is big enough to cover the flowers in paint.
2. Start painting away. Let them make flower prints or paint houses, cars, abstract art… whatever their little minds take them.
Note: When painting with kids it’s good to have something under the painting project to protect the surface; also wipes for quick clean up.
really cool!