Overcoming Stressful Situations

If you are attempting to introduce colors and textures to your toddler prior to them beginning a preschool program this fall, the following activity that involves adding craft paint and embellishments to wax paper will entertain your child and teach them at the same time. After your child completes the project, frame their creation before hanging it up. 

Materials

• smock
• newspaper sheets
• wax paper
• scissors
• craft paint (all the colors of the rainbow)
• paintbrushes (various widths)
• shallow dishes
• sponges
• fabric scraps
• cotton balls
• embellishments (sequins, wiggly eyes, buttons, glitter)
• craft glue
• cotton swabs
• acrylic craft spray
• card stock
• ruler
• tape

Set Up A Work Area And Describe The Project To Your Child

Provide your child with a smock to put over their clothing. Line a table with newspaper sheets. Use a pair of scissors to cut a couple square or rectangle-shaped pieces of wax paper. Fill shallow dishes with craft paint, cotton balls, sequins, wiggly eyes, buttons, and glitter. Cut sponges and fabric scraps into small pieces that are various shapes. Lay several paintbrushes, cotton swabs, and craft glue next to the other materials.

Describe the colors of paint to your child and show them how each one looks after it is applied to a piece of wax paper. Dip sponges and fabric scraps into various trays and press the paint- covered part of each item against the wax paper. Discuss with your child how the sponges and fabric add texture to the paper. Show your child the embellishments that are in some of the trays and discuss the properties that each one possesses, including its shape, color, and texture. 

Instruct Your Child To Decorate The Paper And Frame And Hang It

Encourage your child to decorate a piece of the wax paper with paint and embellishments. While they are covering the paper, ask them questions about the designs and colors that they have chosen. Assist your child with applying glue to embellishments before pressing them against the paper. Once your child is pleased with their creation, allow time for the paint and glue to dry.

Once the artwork has dried, apply a light coat of acrylic craft spray to the front of the artwork. Cut long narrow strips of card stock and glue one strip to each side of the artwork so that the card stock pieces create a frame. Hang the picture on a glass pane in your home so that your child can enjoy the brilliance of the colors that were added whenever sunlight filters into the room. 

Continue To Reinforce Information That Was Presented

Continue to practice reviewing colors and textures with your child. Once they begin preschool, they will already have a grasp of some concepts that will be introduced which may help them excel in the program that you have signed them up for. 

Contact local preschool programs for more information and assistance.