finger painting with a toddler: a simple first art activity

 

Remember those fun language games we've been playing that come

BEFORE practicing the letters of the alphabet?

Yes? If not, please check them out here!

Well, this week, we decided to try out an art activity that comes

BEFORE using crayons, markers, pencils, etc...

finger painting!

A few weeks ago, I read a post on Montessori in Mars 

called Coloring with Cornstarch, Crayons Can Wait.

Her words really resonated with me because

I'd been feeling some pressure from friends and family - even E's doctor -

to have her drawing with crayons and making "crafts."

While I am really excited for her to do those things,

I don't feel like she's quite ready yet...

She still uses a fisted or palmer grip - which is natural,

I just don't want her to become accustomed to holding a pencil this way.

Also, she still takes bites off pencils, erasers, and crayons - yum! ;)

[Young children] appreciate how they can easily see the color/s on their paper, unlike the light lines that they tend to end up making with crayons because they have yet to develop stronger fine motor skills." - Teacher Mars

Elise is interested in making marks on paper with writing utensils, though,

so we haven't been avoiding them altogether...

Instead, I've been trying to offer her lots of other opportunities to strengthen her fine motor control:

practical life exercises,

play dough,

and now, edible(!) finger paint.

We tried out the Imagination Tree's Homemade Edible Finger Paint Recipe.

Not only did it turn out great, but it was REALLY fun to make.

(FYI, the magic happens when you cook it!)

Here's a little more finger paint inspiration from around blog land:

Grow Grow Grow

Sixtine et Victoire

How We Montessori

a little tour: e's art area

I'd been wanting to set up a place for Elise to work on art in our house for awhile, so when I found this small rack and table at a garage sale, I cheered(!) and talked Hubs into carrying them four blocks back to our house.  I mean, really, how often do you find nice, child-sized pieces of furniture at garage sales?!  The table is a little tall for sitting at, but it's just the right height for standing, which is how Elise seems to prefer to work lately anyway.

the art shelf:

I've always debated whether it's better to set up actual art lessons, or just offer a variety of art materials for children to use as they please.  I ended up going with "lessons," since this is Elise's first time using these materials.

the art lessons:

sculpting with gingerbread play dough

Get the recipe here.  This lesson includes a rolling pin, biscuit cutter, and buttons in a tin.  The mat is a remnant of marine vinyl from a craft store.

drawing with crayons

I really appreciate the way these egg-shaped crayons encourage Elise to use a pincer-grip.  I purchased them here.  These are some very well loved crayons - minus the missing red egg!

sticking dots onto a blank card

I've seen this dot sticker activity on several Montessori blogs, so I thought Elise might like to give it a try.  Picking up the stickers is definitely strengthening her fine motor control!  I'm setting aside the decorated cards to use as thank yous for Christmas gifts.

all the art activities, in action  ;)