What do you do with your kid's while you're painting or working on some creative project? When my little ones were babies and toddlers, I would try to do stuff while they were napping. Once I repainted my bedroom while they slept at night. I got everything ready, dusted the walls, laid the drop cloth and when they went to bed...I painted! When they started getting a little older, I let them paint outside with me. They love it! Let them paint.
Saturday, I needed to finish a dresser and my daughter also wanted to paint...the furniture. So I gave her a canvas (sometimes it's a scrap piece of wood) and she went to town! We painted!
I hope I'm instilling, in my children, a love of being creative and to reuse, recycle and repurpose what they've got! Don't lock your children up while you create. Let them create right along side you!
Dressing in Hot Pink and wearing Gold Hello Kitty sandals are pre-requisites to painting!
I'm in the middle right now, where I have one that naps and one that won't... maybe I need to get her a tiny sewing machine??
ReplyDeleteAnd where did you get your little table? I need one of those!
Going to get my gold Hello Kitty sandals and get started!! Love this post...what a great mom!
ReplyDeleteI just posted last week about letting my 3 and 5 year olds paint their step stools. We had so much fun. I love this post and reminder to get them involved. My kids love it and I love what I hope I am teaching.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the only way to do it! My daughter is 5 and wants to help me paint when I'm doing a project. If I'm painting a wall I usually let her paint the bottom far corner that no one will see. Plus I always go over it. If I'm painting something like a table I do what you do and get the canvas out for her to paint on. And because she is using the same paint as me she feels like I am including her.
ReplyDeleteThat's the only way it works in my home - minus the gold sandals. I've got to get some.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. My daughter (4.5yrs old) is normally by my side on every project because she does not nap anymore. She helps me! Whether it is painting, sewing, giving me her opinion we do everything together. It takes more work but then she feels the joy of creating something beautiful. She loves to be involved! I love it when she comes up to me and says "mommy I have a project for us to do!!" Music to my ears.
ReplyDeleteBTW- my daughter normally wears a dress when we craft and silver sandals!! haha!
ReplyDeleteThis is so precious. When my youngest was about three I had left her with my best friend. When I returned to pick her up my friend and my daughter were standing in the hallway painting out butterflies in the hallway wallpaper. I was so impressed with my friend. She taught me an invaluable lesson that day. I think that is why my daughter who is now twenty eight adores that friend of mine so much. There was trust built between them way back when my daughter was just a toddler! You are giving your daughter such a foundation of trust through the simple act of painting!
ReplyDeleteThis was really encouraging for me to see. I am at a different stage with 5 littles and mostly boys and as i watch people and try to figure this whole thing out...There seem to be two extremes: no supervision at all, video games for days, free reign of the remote, or out looking for trouble OR a completely thrashed house where nothing gets doen at all but tecah the children that they entitled and everything revolves around them. I must find that balance in there.
ReplyDeleteOh I love it:) Our little Lottie has her own craft supply box and she is always my little shadow when I am crafting - sure is one way of getting it done. Your pics are so sweet ~ Tina x
ReplyDeleteOh that's cute. It reminds me of the time I was making a quilt and my son was so jealous that it was taking up my time. He ended up taping 4 pieces of paper together and coloring his own quilt. :) We totally need to include them in our fun.
ReplyDeleteI keep on writing on this post but I wanted to tell you I gave you a shout out on my blog today. I thought it was such a great article.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day.
I read this a week ago and thought about it this weekend when we went up to our cabin... I brought along a small footstool that I picked up for $3 and let my 7 yr old paint it. The nine yr old opted to help putty and sand the wood floor in the bathroom. I like to have a project when we go up and after reading this post I figured they probably would like a project too.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are!.... I started making things when I was little.... out of paper, milk cartons and snips of fabric... it was a great way to be creative. :-) Your little pumpkin is as cute as can be.
ReplyDeleteWarm blessings,
Spencer