Bree Loves Finger-painting

I introduced finger-painting to Bree today. Yes, she may be a wee bit too young but I thought she may enjoy experiencing this medium in her hands. She loves feeling things with her hands and with finger-painting; she may also enjoy making patterns that we can then transfer to paper.

Without a proper art smock, I put on her one of those long sleeved bibs that she uses for dinner. She was very interested to see what I had in store for her. She observed closely as I unscrew my bottle of red finger paint. I placed a big tablespoon of the paint on her little table. Bree looked at the dollop of paint and I could see that she was about to poke it with her fingers and might even taste the paint by sticking those fingers straight into her mouth. I quickly invited her to feel the paint in her hands and added that it is not food. I must have underestimated her again because she agreed by pulling a face and saying, “No. Yucky!” I suggested that she try spreading the paint on the table with her hands. I did this by showing her myself. She tried to copy me by first using her palms and then her fingers. She would stop every now and then to inspect her hands. Looking at the squishy paint on her hands, she squealed “Ick!” in delight. I wished her mum was home to look at her face.

After experimenting spreading the paint all around the table top for around 10-15 minutes, I reached for a piece of paper that I had placed conveniently on the dining table nearby. I showed her how I could transfer the pattern created by her on the table to the paper. I thought she would be very satisfied with the print she had just made, but she didn’t seem to be. She just went back to spreading the paint on the table and inspecting her hands periodically. Unlike a preschooler, she was truly at a stage where the process mattered more than the product. I interrupted her to transfer a couple more prints before I suggested that we wash up. She refused and I thought I would give her a few more minutes. I was actually a little worried because I thought she was due to go to the toilet. Luckily, she held on and the wee-wee accident I dreaded didn’t occur.

When she had had enough, she asked, “Wash hands now?” and I took her to the powder room to help her clean up. I asked her how she felt and she answered, “I like paint.” I suggested that we show her mum the prints when they were dry and she smiled. Once she was clean, she proceeded to use the potty and produced a big wee. After that she watched me as I cleaned up the table with a sponge. I thought there and then that this table cleaning would be a great little activity for her come Summer time. Bree went to the powder room to fetch her step up stool because she wanted to inspect her prints drying on the kitchen bench. She pointed to the one in the middle and said, “For Mummy?” and I agreed with her. I asked her if she is going to give one to Dad and she picked the third one. Only then, she pointed to the first one and said, “For @#*-@#*.” (That was referring to me.) Of course I was chuffed. It is excellent to learn that I have a spot inside my little charges’ hearts every time.