Brr! It’s the season of chilly winds and misty skies here in the Pacific Northwest, but there are still so many opportunities for playful fun! If your family is looking for ways to flex their creative muscles while staying warm and cozy indoors, we’ve put together a low-cost craft activity for you to try out inspired by Greentrike’s Play to Learn curriculum.
Looking to meet some new friends this December? Greentrike Play to Learn sessions are always welcoming both new and returning families! Children ages six and under with their caregivers are invited to locations all across Pierce County to participate in individual play, fun group activities, sing-alongs, group circle time, and more. To learn more about Play to Learn and to find a session near you, visit Greentrike.org/play-to-learn.
Plus, check out the list of free, family friendly events and workshops happening out in the community this month down below!
Greentrike Events
The following events are brought to you by Greentrike and, thanks to generous funders, are accessible to families at no cost!
Winter Craft: Snow Paint
Looking for a low-cost, artsy project to create while staying cozy indoors? Consider gathering around the table for a wintery twist on puffy paint! Using unique, new textures in crafts provides playful and safe ways to try something new and engage more senses! Painting with “snow” can encourage children to explore their world and touch new materials.
You Will Need:
- White glue and shaving cream in equal parts
- Paint brush
- Dark-colored paper
Optional materials:
- Food coloring
- Found objects such as sticks, leaves, pine needles, berries, and more.
Steps:
- Mix the white glue and shaving cream in equal parts.
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- Optional: food coloring can also be added for extra colorful art, or if you’d like to make paint visible on light-colored paper!
- Let the mixture stand for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Dip a paintbrush in the paint and brush over the paper. The “Snow Paint” will be fairly fluffy and move across the paper in interesting ways.
- Allow the creation to dry for 2 – 3 hours. If you have any paint left over, you can cover it in an airtight container to use later.
- Come back to take a peek at the picture. What does it feel like now?
- You and your child can collect sticks, greenery, berries, and other found objects to decorate your snow picture and make it pop off the page even more!
What Are We Learning?
- Providing safe ways to try something new, like painting with “snow” encourages children to use their senses, explore the world, and touch new materials.
- Creating designs and textures on paper and observing how the “snow paint” changes as it dries, demonstrates cause and effect.
- Participating in a multi-step project helps children grow in their ability to follow directions and stay with a task for longer periods of time.
- Engaging children in a conversation about their creative processes develops communication and critical thinking skills.
- Cognitive development: creating with snow paint helps your child to think symbolically and can lead to conversations about what they have experienced and the conclusions that they can come up with from what they already know.
- Consider the following questions as starting points for conversation with the child: What does the ice and snow feel like? How do animals who live in very cold places keep warm? What do you need to do to keep warm when it’s very cold outside? What do you like best about the snow?
