Mad Scientist's Lab

Next to treat sampling, Mad Scientist's Lab is the most requested Halloween activity in our house this year.  Its a free for all of mixing, pouring, cackling and scheming guaranteed to keep the little ones busy.  

Materials
Jars, cups, bottles of various shapes and sizes 

Liquid  (we used water, seltzer and vinegar)

Food Coloring

Mix-ins (we used baking soda, peppercorns, rosemary, plastic bugs and gems)

Spoons and/or droppers

1) Protect your play space.  I covered my kitchen counter and floor with layers of newspaper and kept paper towel handy.

2) Fill some of the vessels with liquid.  Add food coloring.  Leave some empty so your scientists can pour potions into them. 

3) Set out bowls of mix-ins.  My kids prefer for me to introduce mix-ins a few a time, so I set out new bowls as they play.

4) Let the madness begin!

Eraser Painting

Materials
Pencil with eraser
Paper
Paint

You don't need a lot of paint for this one, just a quarter size dollap on a plate will do.  Show your little one how to dunk the eraser into the paint and down onto the paper.  They might be interested in making dots, lines or flipping the pencil the other way around and moving the paint around with the pencil tip.

Ziplock Finger Painting

We have been sick a lot in the last few weeks and this mess free take on finger painting has been one of our favorite arty activities!

Materials
large ziplock
tempera paint
tape

Tape three sides of a large ziplock onto a smooth surface, leaving the opening untaped. Any smooth surface will work, though we love using a window.  The light passing through adds a unique element as the paint moves between being  opaque and transparent.  Add tempera paint to the ziplock.  I recommend using two or more colors, so your kiddo can watch the colors swirl and mix.  After paint is added, seal the ziplock and tape down. Squish and smoosh away!  The bags can be saved and used again!

Kid Made Bird Piñata

Had to share the piñata that my three year old insisted we make for mom's birthday.  "It isn't a party if there isn't a piñata," he told me the night before!  One box, a crayon drawing and a few handfuls of crushed tissue paper later we were party ready.

Pipe Cleaner Garland

Pipe cleaners can be tricky for little hands.  They are a bit sharp and hard to manipulate into exact shapes.  But this abstract spring garland was a perfect pipe cleaner activity for my one and three year
olds.

Materials
Pipe Cleaners
String, ribbon or thin rope

Hang a long ribbon or string in a spot that your little one can reach.  Set out a stack of pipe cleaners.  I was thinking spring, so I picked out a mix of happy yellows, oranges, greens and pinks.  Show your little one how the pipe cleaners bend and move.  Then let them get to work!  Encourage your little one to hang their creations on the string.  The mix of unique little sculptures makes a super fun celebratory display!

Spring!

Spring has arrived and our art making materials have been inspired by the buds, grass and breeze of the season!

Leprechaun's Gold Dough Play

Materials
Yellow Play Dough
Rolling Pin
Rolling Pad
Round cookie cutters

Make a batch of yellow play dough inspired by leprechauns' gold!  Set out lots of round cookie cutters, along with a rolling pin and rolling pad.  All you need for a St. Patrick's Day dough play session!

Painting Snow

Materials
Snow
Container for snow
Paint
Brushes
Cups

We don't get a lot of snow here in the city, but we love what little we do get!  To maximize snow time, I regularly bring a sled full into the house for the kids to play in.  Building, digging and melting the snow are favorite activities over here, but during our last snow we decided to try something new: painting it!

This is an easy one!  On a snowy day head out with a leak proof container.  The container can be any size--cup, bowl, storage bin, etc.  I used our plastic sled. After filling your container with snow, bring it inside and let your little one get to work painting.  They can experiment with brushing on color or pouring paint onto the snow.  They might want to mix up the painted snow with a spoon or their hands, playing with color saturation and enjoying its weight, texture and temperature.

Embroidery Floss + Glue

Materials
Glue
Embroidery floss
Construction paper

Set out paper, glue and lots of long lengths of embroidery floss.  It is the season of leprechauns and pots of gold so I opted for a colorful rainbow of floss choices.   My kiddo used a glue stick to thoroughly cover his paper, though white glue is great too!  He then got busy smushing handfuls of floss into the glue and guiding individual strands into place.  Such an easy way to add fibers into our everyday art making!

Pouring Paint

Materials
Newspaper
Watercolor Paper
Tempera Paint
Cups
Water

Start by lining your bathtub or sink with newspaper.  Place watercolor paper on top top of the newspaper.  Mix tempera paint in cups with just a little water.  You want the paint to be thinner than it is right from the bottle, but not too transparent.

Invite your little one to pour paint onto the paper.  The paint will splatter, pool and mix in interesting patterns.  Your kiddo may want to experiment with colors and paint consistency.