Hugs Rock

All over our neighborhood, folks are hanging hearts in their windows. These are supposed to symbolize hugs for people who need one. Here in Atlanta, we are thinking just as much about our CDC workers as we are all of the essential personnel. If you happen to be one of those folks - thank you so much. I hope this project brings you a virtual hug.

You need:

• rocks

• acrylic paint

• permanent marker

• polyurethane sealant

The sealant is to help make the paint more permanent, as we planned to leave them outside. Let’s get started!

We started by cleaning the rocks. This is an optional step, but also a great practical skill! We used a bucket of soapy water and an old scrub brush, but really, anything would be fine. While the rocks were drying, June had plenty of time to stack them up, line them up, explore texture, and whatever else struck her. It is great to allow open exploration whenever there are new materials that you plan to give instructions about. Meanwhile, I set up acrylic paint in an old ice cube tray. Our house rules for painting are to keep the paint on the mat and put it where it’s supposed to go. Don’t be afraid to pause (for minutes or days!) if your child is stressing you out with this part. Remember, with littles, it’s best to think process over product. Unless you can stand a big mess.

When the paint dried, I drew a heart on each one with a permanent marker. Then I slapped on a coat of polyurethane. That whole process took less than ten minutes. This sealant is considered craft non-toxic but not food non-toxic. Have that in mind as you decide if sealing will be a kid job or an adult job. Then, we let them dry and moved them out to the curb. Our neighborhood is active and we know that these rocks will bring smiles and might even find new homes. You could also leave them on your porch or put them in a garden to enjoy.

I hope you feel inspired! Remember that we are better together, and this too shall pass. How are your neighbors there for each other right now? Leave it in the comments! xo

Dandelion Bubbles

If you have always thought that a dandelion is just a weed, think again! Every part of the dandelion - leaves, stem, flower, root, is 100% edible. Which makes it a great flower choice for this activity!

You need:

• dandelions*

• scissors

• small dish

• dish soap

• water

  Extra:

• salad spinner
  

  *Note that it’s best to have dandelions from a source that is pesticide-free. And if you have dogs or cats, think about where they… you know…

June already loves finding dandelions. This project makes her love them even more. Let’s get started!

First, use the scissors to trim the top and bottom off of the dandelion stem. You’ll have something like 3-5 inches of stem with clean cut ends. Rinse well. Then, mix a small amount of dish soap (about the size of a half dime) with a small amount of water, maybe an equal amount or less. You really just want to dilute the detergent. Use the dandelion stem to stir the solution. Then blow gently in the opposite end and you should get bubbles!

Experiment with how breath affects the bubbles. What does a long, slow breath do, versus a quick, strong breath? If you are doing this project with very young children, have them practice blowing air to make a leaf move first, before having them blow the bubbles themselves. If they can’t do this independently, it will be just as magical to watch you for a while. They can also dry the other dandelion parts with the salad spinner and snack on them to get involved, too.

While I’m at it, if you ever need 10 minutes and just can’t figure out how to occupy your child, remember the salad spinner. I keep it in the pantry but when it comes out, June gets so excited and it is a guaranteed short break for me. It’s been a washing machine, a race track, a merry-go-round… the possibilities are endless. I also believe mine is indestructible, although I’ve been told that it’s not. I suppose if you have a vintage salad spinner that your grandpa brought home for your grandma after the war, you might want to think twice before handing it to the kiddo.

Did you try the bubbles? Or get 10 minutes of free time from the salad spinner? Leave it in the comments! xo

Flower Stamps

This is one of my favorite projects. Try it in the spring with dandelions, violets, and azaleas. Summer blooms like petunias, vinca, or zinnia petals work well. Think of the leaf colors you can make in the fall! And the interesting shapes of evergreen trimmings make this project a year-round possibility.

You need:

• water color paper

• flowers/leaves

• paper towel

• mallet

It’s already beautiful, isn’t it? Let’s get started!

First, place the flower on the paper. Then cover the flower and hold it in place with the paper towel. The next step is to pound it all over with the mallet. I “co-hammer” with my kids, where their hand is on top of mine to guide the work. The paper towel holding is an adult job, and be sure to watch out for your fingers! When you are finished, you will be able to peel the flower off of the water color paper, leaving behind a lovely flower stamp. Since the water color paper really absorbs color well, some subjects leave behind very well-defined and truly lovely prints! You can also transfer color onto construction paper using the same method, but the results aren’t as crisp. Experiment with it. What shapes work best? Are there some flowers that change color when they are transferred?

For younger children, this activity is all about the process. Older children might want to create an artistic product. Be sure to revisit it over time and see how your child changes their interpretation of the work.

Did you try it? Did it work? Leave a comment! xo