Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1
Spread a blanket on the floor to set the picnic mood. Gather bite-sized snacks or snacks cut into small pieces. Place a small plate of snacks next to each child so that he or she won't have to reach to eat. We like cut-up peanut butter sandwiches, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, and a handful of chips.
Step 2
Give each child their own set of art supplies: paint brushes, watercolor paints, and a jar of water to rinse brushes. (The less they have to move around to reach, the less chance of spill the water jar or drip paint.) For my toddler, I pre-wet his watercolors using a small spray water bottle. This way he can easily pick up paint with his brush.
Step 3
For a little inspiration, I offered some fresh daffodils as a still life. My kids were free to paint whatever they wanted. We've painted pears, pattypan squash, stuffed animals, and more! Usually we just paint straight from our imaginations. Paint alongside your child and offer ideas or doodles if they don't know where to start.
Step 4
Painting on index cards or similarly sized paper keeps kids from feeling intimidated by the blank page. If your kids love filling an entire page with paint (like my toddler), the smaller size makes it easier to transport the wet artwork.
Final result!
In just under an hour, we have a new collection of art for our gallery, also known as our living room walls.
