Spinning Art with Boys

For Christmas, my husband got me a salad spinner.  Yep, he did.

Anyway.  I’ve never had a salad spinner myself, because I don’t like single-purpose kitchen tools if I can avoid it, especially one so bulky, and also because I’ve never felt the need for wicking water off my salad greens.  But hubby noticed I was enjoying salads more lately, and so he thought it might be nice.  He had also forgotten to take the price tag off, and the spinner proudly displayed $40.   It’s true that it was made of a special safe plastic and was collapsible, but wha…?.  I tactfully asked, and he agreed, and the spinner was returned.  (For the record, he then got me a pair of skates – yay!)

But it must have triggered a tucked-away memory of an art project, because several days later I was in a thrift store looking around, spotted a bunch of salad spinners, and remembererd their possibilities.  So I bought one ($2).  Not for salads, but for spin art!

My boys and I just tried it, an idea from the Artful Parent, which is a blog teeming with accessible art activities for young children.  Spin art is totally satisfying, almost mesmerizing work.  To make it, basically you put a circular piece of paper in a salad spinner, plop some paint on it, and spin away.

I had to post about it here for two reasons:

1.  You only need 3 things:  a salad spinner, paint (we used tempera paints), and paper.

2.  It’s a great art activity for boys, and mine (5 and 3) worked at it together, in harmony, for almost an hour.

Each of these reasons needs a little elaboration.  Reason #1 needs elaboration because, well, this isn’t exactly true.  Because of course you need a place to do the art, some smocks or clothing you don’t mind getting paint on (or just turn clothes inside out), and scissors to cut the paper into circles to fit the salad spinner.  But most of us have these things, so the project still counts as accessible! The most important thing to add to this point for the non-salad spinning types out there is that you need a container of some kind to put under the salad spinner or you will be flinging paint all over the room!  I hadn’t realized this at first, but thank heavens before we started painting, the boys were playing with the spinner with pompoms dipped in water (please don’t ask) and I saw the water everywhere.   I used a large circular cake pan as the paint catcher and all was well.

As for Reason #2, of course this activity will engage girls also.  But it’s especially nice for boys (and at 4Mothers, we have boys, boys, and more boys) because there’s a lot of action in making this art.  First, they can shake up the paint in the bottle (warning:  ensure the caps are on tight!) and shake like their lives depend on it, they will.  Then they can undo the cap and squirt the paint on themselves with just a little guidance to avoid pouring too much in.  They can return the lid to the spinner, and of course they get to spin away.  My 3 year old could do all of these steps comfortably, and the full participation was great for him.  Also, his older brother was able to cut circles out of the paper while he waited for his turn, and wrote his and his brother’s name on them.  Which was really helpful, because it is very hard after the first few to remember who made what.

And a couple of miscellaneous thoughts…  First, thicker paper works better.  We used both paper plates and regular paper, and the plates worked better, with less curling around the edges once the paint dried.  And second, I only had one salad spinner and was initially sorry I hadn’t picked up another one.  But as it turned out, I actually think it worked better that the two boys had to share.  The wait added a bit of anticipation but was short enough not to cause frustration, and they got to watch and enjoy each others’ work.

Neither of my sons is particularly interested in sitting quietly and drawing pictures, but I’m convinced they can enjoy making art all the same, and this action-packed art project hits the spot.  The room was full of excitement (“My turn! My turn!”), curiosity (peeking into the hole at the top of the salad spinner while spinning), and encouragement of each other (“Wow, that looks great!”).

That was pleasure enough for me, but as a final bonus, we are making a mobile out of the artwork for their infant brother.  I hope seeing their artwork floating above the diaper table gives them the same pleasure it gives me, and I’ll be asked to give that spinner another whirl.

An Audio Alternative for the Media-Cautious Parent

I think I’m what the internets would call a media-cautious parent.  Basically, I’m careful about what my children see on (computer or television or handheld) screens, because I’m often not crazy about what’s playing on those screens or the way they engage or disengage my boys, as the case may be.  In our house, we are contented to live without cable (a decision that long preceded parenthood), and use our old TV to play the occasional DVD.

But I had wondered about good quality storytelling on audio, like a radio program.  The same issues arose around content though, and as I didn’t take the time to delve into the possibilities, it left my mind.

But I’ve recently discovered Sparkle Stories*, an online source for audio stories for children (they also have a lovely blog, which sometimes features written stories).   Its husband and wife creators promise that each week its listeners will receive an original and entertaining story for up to six different storylines.  Told by the husband, a Waldorf teacher, these stories are designed to nurture the imagination and foster a sense of wonder in the world.

So we gave a try to Martin and Sylvia, a series about a brother and sister, geared for 4-8 year olds, and I think we’ve hit on a success.

I have a confession:  I haven’t listened to completion any of the stories we’ve played so I can’t tell you more.  That’s because I was working, or cooking, or tending to my other kids.  Because the reality is that a good part of the attraction of Sparkle Stories, like its media counterparts, is that is buys a divided parent a bit of time.  But for me, the media-cautious parent, the other major appeal is that I don’t feel like I need to know more about the stories, because I trust the source.

While my 5 year old didn’t turn somersaults in the air after his first story, he has quietly asked for it again and again.  And that’s another thing I like about our experience with the Sparkle Stories.  There’s no gimmick or glamour, just a good tale told well.  It doesn’t overpower the listener or lull him into a trance.  But when I watch my son gaze out the window during for the duration of an entire story, I’m quite sure his heart and mind are going to intriguing places, and kind of wish I could follow along with them.

* Sparkle Stories doesn’t know about me.  I’m just telling you about them because I like them.

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Mary Poppins was one of my favourite movies when I was a child.  My mother had taped it onto a VHS cassette from the tv and I would watch it over and over, rewinding all of the commercials using the clunky remote that was tethered to the VCR with a chewed up black cord.

I watched it so many times that I knew which commercial was the final one in the 3 minute line-up and could release the fast forward button and cease the whirring of the tape with such finesse it begs the question why I wasn’t any good with Nintendo games.

When my older boys reached 3 and 4 years old, I showed them my beloved Mary Poppins –  the high-tech DVD, commercial-free version – and I eagerly anticipated the end of the movie so we could break out in a Von Trapp-esque rendition of A Spoon Full of Sugar.

Admittedly, the boys’ reaction to the movie was a little lackluster.  They didn’t really understand how Mary had all of this magic power and the tuppence lady sort of scared them.

However, when Mirvish announced that the Broadway show, Mary Poppins was coming to Toronto, I immediately ordered tickets.

I love live theatre and sit in awe of the talent that goes into producing such spectacles.

Everything from the detailed costumes to the eye-catching sets and the lighting was phenomenal.  Not to mention that the actors performed each high-energy musical number with such gusto is was nearly impossible to keep from tapping my toes.

The play deviates somewhat from the original story.   The transformation of Mr. Banks and the push for good-old fashion family values is even more lauded than the original movie but works nonetheless.

Of course, Mary Poppins lived up to every expectation that I had.  Her quick wit, and dazzling personality were just as I remembered.

But perhaps the best part of the performance was when Mary opened her black umbrella, clutched her carpetbag in one hand and flew up to the balcony an arm’s length from the boys.  The look on their faces was well worth the price of the ticket.

They were finally enchanted by Mary’s magic.

If you’re wanting to see Mary Poppins in Toronto, you’d better do so soon!  Mary Poppins leaves town January 8, 2012.  If you live in the U.S.A., Australia or Mexico City be sure to check the official website for when Mary will be visiting your city.

Do you like the image?  It’s available as a sticker or a t-shirt at www.redbubble.com.  Check them out -lots of great gift ideas.

 

A Kids Craft Activity You Can Actually Do

If you have spent any time at all in the blogosphere of crafty mothers, you will know that it is overflowing with beautiful and innovative ideas for crafting with children.  As for me, I am helplessly drawn to the crafty creations of the natural living flock, and am constantly impressed by the artistry in the wood and wool crafts.

As anyone who has actually tried to replicate these crafts will tell you, though, they are almost invariably harder to do at home than they appear on the screen.  First, you have to have the supplies (the getting of which can be tough, as I’ve discovered especially with the natural materials I like so much), and then you need to make space and time, which you’re likely to underestimate because who properly accounts for prep time and clean up with small children except their teachers?

Having said all that, I’m not a craft naysayer – not at all.  Actually, I go through quite a bit of effort to ensure that I do some crafting and creating at home with my boys because I value it so much.  But I’m aware of how much effort goes into some of these endeavours, and I know how divided a mother’s time can be, so I’m always on the prowl for easy kids crafts too.  Partly for my own sanity, but also to make a pitch to other parents who might enjoy this version of quality time with their kids but don’t have tons of energy or time to throw at it.

Enter marshmallows and toothpicks. That’s it!

As I discovered this idea from the Artful Parent, with just these two items, you are set up for some serious fun with your kids.  You poke the toothpicks into the marshmallows and see what structures you can make.  If you get different sized marshmallows (highly recommended!) or the coloured ones, you can make some really interesting things.  The Artful Parent suggests stale marshmallows, which might make them sturdier, but I just used fresh ones and they were fine too.

This activity works for a wide age range.  Older kids (and adults) will be able to make quite impressive towers and bridges, but it’s really nice and inclusive for toddlers too, as they’ll be able to poke their own marshmallows and make something too.

Clean-up is a snap and there basically isn’t any prep to do.  And of course you can recycle the marshmallows afterward for rice crispie squares (also an easy make with little people).

It’s not very natural living or Martha Stewart or whatever, but it is do-able, and it’s rare that I’ve gotten that much successful and fun making time with my boys for so little effort.  It’s nice to drool over the creative crafting of the web; it’s better to do what you can when the screen is off.

Do you have any easy crafting ideas to share?

Guest Post by KJ: Recreating Jackson Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm

Hi I am KJ.

I like Julie Andrews, butterflies, sewing, and making crafty messes with my daughters. I blog about crafty adventures over at let’s go fly a kite.   The inspiration for many of my “crafting with kids”  projects come from books and blogs.  This project was inspired by Ian Falconer’s Olivia.  Ever since my daughter Lily read the first Olivia book, she has wanted to recreate Jackson Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm.

This is how we did it.
Materials: paint (we chose 3 fall colours in liquid Tempera), squeeze bottles, and an artist canvass (we worked with 16 X 20 inches which was on sale for $4.99)

I showed Lily a photo from my History of Modern Art book of Pollock in action.

We did this project on our back deck. We spread out newspaper and put the canvass on top. Lily then used paint-filled squeeze bottles to apply the paint.

At first Lily was nervous and stayed close the canvass.

When she got the hang of squeezing the paint, she stood up.

Here is the canvass wet. Drying time was about 8 hours. We let it dry in the sun.

Here is the finished piece.  Lily is extremely proud of her Autumn Rhythm.

This is a really fun project for kids of all ages!  Thanks for having me 4 mothers. I hope you will stop by my kite sometime and say hello.

Looking For Something To Do: North Toronto Splash Pad Edition

Looking for something to do with the kids this summer to beat the heat?  Why not try out a city splash pad?

Toronto is spotted with great splash pads and wading pools that make cooling off with little ones easy-peasy.  I recently discovered Hendon Park, which is definitely not new since my nephews used to romp in and out of the spraying palm trees more than a dozen years ago.

The large spray pad contains several palm trees which rain water down and just as many fountains that shoot streams high overhead.  An adjacent patch of sprayers is available for the littlest ones looking for some fun, which makes taking kids of various ages just a bit easier.

Next to the water attraction is a decent sized park with swings, climbers and public tennis courts.  Washrooms are free to use so you don’t have to worry about cutting the trip short to use the potty.  But since I have boys, who view the world as their tree, we rarely have this problem!

Bring a blanket, some snacks and grab a spot in the plentiful shade and enjoy a day with friends.

More information about Hendon Park including directions click here.

Melanie On The Go offers her review of Hendon Park here.

For a complete location of Toronto’s splash pads click here.

Where are the best splash/spray pads in your neighbourhood?  

photo credit: www.melanieotg.ca

Help! What to do with these kids!?

Stuck on what to do with the kids?  Are the summer days feeling long?  Searching for the perfect activity to do with the family this weekend?

Melanie On The Go to the rescue!

I stumbled across this great website, where Melanie, a mom of two, reviews hot-spots for kiddies in the greater Toronto area.  She gives a complete over view of parks, splash pads, amusement parks and farms complete with pros and cons, which makes planning a whole lot easier.

Melanie’s site is perfect for families with little ones but for kids who have outgrown wading pools and kindergym, check out these websites that I look to for a little inspiration:

www.toronto4kids.com

www.littlepaper.com

www.savvymom.com

 

Click on About Town and Things to Do With a Boy (on the Categories menu) for some other suggestions from the 4mothers.

How about you?  What are some of your go-to websites?  If you live outside of the GTA share the wealth and let us know where to go, someone might be visiting your town!

photo credit: www.livingmymoment.com

Toronto Fun Places

Picture it. It’s a Saturday morning. A whole long day stretches in front of you, and you have no idea how to fill your day. 

Go to the park?

Sure. For an hour.

Art projects?

Sure. For an hour.

You know what kind of day I mean. Last summer we found something that helps keep those long, tedious, unplanned days at bay.  Called Toronto Fun Places, author Nathalie Prézeau and her family visited hundreds of different locales around Toronto to come up with this guide to family-tested, tried and true day trips in and within a two-hour drive of the city of Toronto. Organized by theme (indoors/outdoors; water fun; natural activities, sports and so on) the book lists every conceivable indoor playground, pool, and park worth visiting.   My favourite feature?  A guide to kid-friendly strolls around various TTC subway stations — a great feature when you have one transit-obsessed child and another who needs something to look forward to at the end of the line.  Prézeau also includes little tips about each location, including what to see, what to bring and where to eat. Now in its fifth edition, Toronto Fun Places is available in the travel book section at Independent booksellers, Chapters/Indigo and through the distributor, University of Toronto Press.

Fun with Face Painting

I’ve recently emerged from my older son’s 5th birthday celebrations.  I try to keep things on the simple side, so we invited several children (with siblings and parents) to our place for a house party.  The machinations were few, featuring mostly a caterpillar cake I made and a homemade pinata.

The one thing I threw in at the last minute was face painting.  I had bought a basic set of face paints a few months ago and had used them exactly once before the party.   With a certain reckless abandon, I decided to offer this service to the little guests, and all but the one year old took me up on it.

Necessary point of departure:  I have no visually artistic tendencies.  I don’t draw well naturally and have never learned how to improve.   There is no false modesty here.  I’m not a bad dancer; I can carry a tune.  But my freehand pictures are two-dimensional and blobby.

Before the guests arrived, I had reassured myself thinking that at the worst I could at least paint a star on a cheek or something.  I thought the kids would be easy to please.  And they were, kind of, but kind of not too.  I was not prepared for the requests that came in, including Batman, Ironman (who?), a panda bear, a dinosaur, a dog, and a butterfly.  I did, however, have the sense to set up the paints in front of the computer (yes, the computer), where I googled images of every single request.  Then I looked for the simplest image that also satisfied the model.

Then I copied.

I’ve asked no one at the party for permission to feature their kindie beloveds for this blog post, so I won’t show the pics, but they’re not bad. As with just about anything, it’s possible to get very fancy with facepainting, but even my amateur version was a hit.

Given how easy it was, I’m here to sing its praises to anyone who is looking for a fun activity with the kids.  Because while it’s an obvious bonus, you don’t really need to know how to draw, just to copy.  Basically, if I can get away with facepainting/facecopying, you can too.

I bought Snazaroo face paints (something like this (but not a gendered version) at Mastermind Toys), as this brand was recommended to me by a couple of face painters I’d met at local festivals and parties.  They’re non-toxic, no one who had used them ever had a kid react to the paint, and being water-based they rub off easily with a wet cloth.  Some people like paint pencils, but the palette I bought is so simple to apply, I can’t really imagine anything easier.  At about $20 for a basic set, which will paint many, many faces, they’re an inexpensive way to have a lot of creative fun.

And of course our children can wield the brush too…

Seasons Do Change

Photo credit:  mableymeadow.blogspot.com

After having hip surgery last week, my husband surprised me by taking up his mother’s offer to recuperate in her small basement area.  The set-up there boasts few stairs, a walk-in shower, quiet, and no young children.  It’s been a huge help to us, and my only concern about it is that I hope we aren’t wearing out Ben’s retired mother to the bone.

I got a birds-eye view into this make-do period of our lives when I overheard my mother-in-law describe the following scenario to my sister, who had dropped by with some food.  My family of four was in my mother-in-law’s basement this afternoon.  She descended the stairs because she heard someone moaning, “I can’t move.”  That would be me:  she found me lying in the tiny basement hallway, outside the bathroom.  (My back had gone out, and I couldn’t move, but I didn’t realize I was making noise.)  Ben was on his crutches, trying to edge his way around me through the narrow space to get back into his bed.  A raised, plastic toilet seat was a foot or two away from my head, and our two young children were hovered around me, alternately offering comfort and trying to coax me into play.

I’ve discovered that the chaos of our present is inescapable.  It has me searching, when I am calm enough, for pockets of pleasure in the day.  Sometimes it’s just an observation – like noticing the blooming crocuses or my son’s ringlets or the way his brother just helped him do something, unbidden.

Sometimes it’s more tangential, a barely-related-memory, like a conversation I had with my mechanic five years ago.  He was a grandfather, and I was pregnant with my first son and nervous.  He reassured me with this:  “Don’t worry.  Kids are okay.  With the first one, you worry.  The second one, you enjoy.  The third one, you throw him in the back and you hope he don’t choke himself.”

Like I said, a barely-related memory.  But I’m glad it came to me, bringing to mind someone I like, adding a little levity into my thoughts and a little nudge in my side, the one that tells me that there are low tides for everyone, when you kind of do what you need to do.  There’s no equilibrium to our lives at the moment, but I can try to remember that there are seasons, and that the seasons do change.  Spring did finally arrive, didn’t it?

A modified version of this post also appears at http://thekingsandi.wordpress.com.