I know, I know. It doesn't hail often. But I hope the next time it does, you see not only a freak weather event, but also an opportunity to paint! :) This happened around a year ago. It was hailing - and I saw my chance! I ran around outside like a crazy person with some Gladware containers filling them like mad. I popped them all in the freezer (thank goodness my husband is used to finding all sorts of weird things in our refrigerator) and we used them up over a day or two. Sweet little S is three in these photos.
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She kept marveling at how cold the hail was!
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I like to guard against accidental paint spillage whenever possible. Sometimes we paint out of a Dollar Tree muffin tin or an ice tray, but it's a little hard to see the colors of the liquid watercolors in there. So for this activity I put them all in plastic cups and set those inside a larger (aka less tip-able) container. S used a pipet
to pick and choose her colors. Working with pipets is great fine motor practice!
to pick and choose her colors. Working with pipets is great fine motor practice!
The colors were just so beautiful, and it was neat to watch them mix and make their way through the little tunnels in between the bits of hail.
S really enjoyed using the hail as a canvas to make an entire painting.
Here's another one she was working on.
Oh, and in case you were curious what little X used to do during these times (he isn't very into touching cold things - so he declined to do more than poke once or twice at the hail) - he LOVED being able to play with S's feet. I have lots of photos of this because S and I found it endlessly hilarious.
Here's one of her finished masterpieces. They don't last forever, but are a gorgeous work of art nonetheless.
If you'd rather not wait for hail, or if it never hails where you live, you could certainly approximate this activity by substituting crushed ice! You can also substitute food coloring diluted in water for liquid watercolors. :)
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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child's parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child's pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.
That IS gorgeous :) We never have snow, so I think I will go with crushed ice :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, totschooltotallyawesome! I hope you all have fun with it!!! :)
DeleteHow fun! Its going to be storm season here very soon, so when it hails I will have to do this with my daughter!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Steph! Yay!!! :)
DeleteI've done this large scale with a turkey baster outside in the snow. The colors actually last a long time outside too. Haven't done it this year yet, but I think we will do it soon.
ReplyDeleteOooh, that would be fun with a turkey baster! We use condiment bottles for snow, but we usually bring the snow inside where it's warm, hahaha!
DeleteSo creative n my little girl n i are goibg to ave so mych fun
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad! I hope you both have as much with it as we did! :)
DeleteCould you possibly try lining your container with watercolor paper before adding the ice and after the ice has melted, the child would be left with something to show for all their creativity.
ReplyDeleteYou could! The liquid watercolors get VERY diluted, so it would be quite faint - but you could absolutely try it! :)
DeleteFor a similar project, you can drizzle glue on heavy paper, cover with regular table salt, and color the same way. Best part is that it lasts when it dries so the work of art isn't lost (=
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! So many different ways to make art. We enjoyed painting hail, but if someone is looking for a lasting piece of artwork they would be better off doing another project such as the one you described!
DeleteI came across your site via the KBN network--I just LOVE it! So creative, fun, easy and such gorgeous pictures! Thanks! PS Pinned ang G+s a lot of activities!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thank you so much, Angelina - for the sweet compliments and for all the sharing!!!! :) :) :)
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