In a previous blog, I mentioned that Tyler likes to collect rocks when we are walking around the neighborhood. I’d like to share with you an activity we do with the rocks once we get them home. We paint them. It’s a simple and inexpensive activity but he loves it.
The basic materials you will need, besides the rocks, are acrylic paint, paint brushes and/or sponges and markers. Have some glue, glitter, wiggle eyes and other craft supplies on hand, if you like. Once Tyler collects rocks in different shapes and sizes, I put them in a bucket, wash them good, and then allow the rocks to dry. Once the rocks are dry, they are painted with white acrylic paint and allowed to dry again. This is my preference, but you can skip this step if you like.
Once the white paint has dried, Tyler paints the rocks like people, animals, etc. Sometimes he likes to simply paint them different colors and patterns. Then we allow the rocks to dry again. Once that’s done, we sometimes add embellishments. I especially like those little wiggle eyes. You can add sparkles, bits of pom-poms, felt– whatever you have on hand. It’s a good idea to use whatever it is you have around the house. The goal is to let your child’s creativity shine through in their artwork. What I especially like about this activity is that it’s done in stages and allows Tyler to see the results of his work unfold over the course of a few days.
If you live near a seashore or beach, you can do the same thing with shells. Or you can go to a craft store and purchase shells to work with, but again, I think that working with found objects is a better idea. The finished rocks make great, whimsical paperweights and desk ornaments. Or you can line them up on a shelf or windowsill.
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