Happy, Healthy Kids: Painting for Dad

If there is one thing my kids would love to do every day it’s painting. My Grammy is an artist. We all seem to have he genes and frequent desire to express ourselves on canvas.

With Father’s Day coming up, kids and dads may enjoy a handmade painting.

Michael’s Arts & Crafts is one of my kids favorite stores and place for painting supplies. For paintings we use:

• Crayola washable paint
• Canvases (which are often on sale)
• Paint brushes
• Paper plates
• Newspaper
• Portable wooden easels

Since we paint fairly regularly, I find that the total cost for a painting comes in at approximately $1 - $3 each.  

We put newspapers on the floor and use paper plates for the pallets. Our canvas is sitting on the little easels. We are ready to see what develops before our eyes.

The trick is finding a picture for the kids to look at. It’s also great for kids to make up their own painting but I have found when my kids can look at something they tend feel more confident about what they are creating. The images are not for exact duplicates per say, they simply can provide a point of reference.

Young learners tend to paint in one dimension. A little trick I love is showing them how to dip their brush in one color and then scooping up a second color with the same brush and watching beautiful blends unfold on the canvas.

We've been known to use glitter on occasion to make a castle painting sparkle.

Kids take such pride in knowing they created something. Parents know every painting from their children’s hands is a beautiful one.

I have paintings from my children spread throughout our home. Every time I pass by one of them, my heart smiles with joy.

This Father’s Day, why not accent your home with handmade works of art from your children. Dad's heart will soar and your family can enjoy the paintings for years to come.

Happy Painting!