Chalk Art on It's Playtime

Today I'm off to play with my kids in the mountains.  It's all about exploring nature with hiking, waterfalls and maybe some wild animals.  So in an effort to keep things short and sweet here is my fabulous feature for this weeks It's Playtime!  It's all about the mess....

Creative Playhouse shared their Crushed Chalk Art.  Simple, open-ended, and messy; just the way I like it!  Your kids will enjoy crushing the chalk as much as creating a colorful piece of art.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* Jillian: A Mom With a Lesson Plan

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

By linking up you give us permission to grab a picture and feature you here, on a site we write for, on FB or Pinterest.   If we share your link, we will always credit you, send people to your original post and use only ONE photo.

It's Playtime: Exploding Art (Enough Said!)

I like things messy....art wise.  I can't always get my kids in on the action though.  My son attracts dirt like Pig Pen but heaven forbid he gets paint on his hands.  He won't even play with Obleck (or goo, or what ever you call cornstarch and water in your home).  My daughter is now a "trained" artist and is above making a mess (although leaving her mess after painting is a different story).  Well this week on It's Playtime I'm featuring the ultimate messy art.  This project rolls art, science, outdoor, and messy play into one package.  So without further ado I give you.....

Exploding Art

 I'm actually kind of jealous of this project in the "why didn't I think of that" way.  My son's preschool teacher made rockets using film canisters and Alka Seltzer and the kids loved it!  Why didn't I think to take it further? Well Kudos to Housing a Forest for taking it further and creating some fantastic fun.  Go and check them out...right now!  What are you waiting for? Go!!!!

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."  

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

The Messy Kids Top 5 Posts of 2011

This past week, I've noticed a lot of other bloggers posting their top 10 posts of 2011.  Just to be different (and because I've only been around for a little less then a year), I'm going to share the Messy Kids Top 5 Posts of 2011.

#5 Baked Crayon Art

#4 Crayon Melt

 

#3 Building a Carousal

#2 Creepy Crawly Water Beads

And the #1 Messy Kids post of 2011....No Flour Playdough!  

Thank you for being a part of my first year as a blogger and I look forward to sharing so much more with you in 2012!  

It's Playtime: Playing with Seeds

Fall is a fantastic time to play with seeds and seed pods.  They can be found everywhere: on the ground, in the food we eat, and at the store.  They are great for sensory play, painting, counting, graphing, eating, etc.  This week on It's Playtime, I've featured some fun, messy, and creative ideas for exploring seeds (or seed pods).  Enjoy, and remember, sometimes it is OK to play with your food!

Playful Learners shared Pumpkin the Hedgehog.  How cute is he?!  

How about some outside exploration, messy fun, and fall decorations all wrapped up in one blog post?  Then check out Paint & Pine Cones from Sun Hat & Wellie Boots.  They had a grand time gathering pine cones, painting them, and creating wonderful displays.  

It's OK if you've lost your marbles, there are acorns laying on the ground!  Marla's Motherhood Musings created Acorn Art.  It didn't quite go as planned...

Indian corn isn't just for decorating the Thanksgiving table, it's a great material for artistic expression.  Just ask Child Central Station who made a wonderful mess while they did some Indian Corn Printing/Painting.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

It's Playtime: Creative Messes

I'm a big believer in messy play.  I used to drive my co-teachers crazy with the messy activities I'd set up at preschool; from flour sensory play to painting with shoes there was never a lack of messiness in my classroom.  My kids practice messy play at home too.  My son enjoys mixing up strange concoctions and my daughter regularly uses her face painting kit to practice her artistic skills on all the kids in the neighborhood.  Recently my son enjoyed playing in the sprinklers....err...the mud outside.

Last week's It's Playtime was full of creative messy play and art ideas.  From painting with hats to playing in a kiddie pool of shaving cream, these kids made a mess....and had a blast doing it!

Over at The Play-Based Classroom, these kids tried Painting with Hats.  To me, this is what preschool should be all about: experimenting!      

Our very own It's Playtime pal, hands on: as we grow, posted this messy Koolaid Paint activity.  Koolaid, ice, and a little boy, what better combination can you think of for messy play?  Henry even made a cool and colorful mess during clean-up time!    

Tinkerlab used cookie sheets to create unique and beautiful Monoprints.  And what little one can resist a moment to stick her hands in paint?  None that I know!  

What's more fun then a birthday party?  How about a Messy Art Birthday Party!  L from Play Create Explore had the messiest 3rd birthday party I've ever seen!  And boy, these kids are having a blast!  And while you are there, check out another messy art idea they posted last week, Painting on a Dry Erase Board.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

Welcome and Why I Started This Blog....

I've been working with kids in different settings for over 15 years now.  As a former preschool teacher, my favorite activity was art.  I was never the kind of teacher who enjoyed using templates, but rather would allow my children to create art from whatever I could pull out of my...hat...that day.  To me, art is about the process of exploring materials and textures without the constant hounding of "don't put that there!"  It's about the entire creative process.  And if it doesn't "look" like anything, then that's O.K.  I was excited in my last year of preschool because the company that purchased us agreed with my way of thinking, and Process Art became the desired form to be displayed.  Although parents were confused by what their children were creating, often asking, "what is it?" the children were excited about getting messy and just being kids.

I've decided to start this blog with the hopes to reach out to other teachers and show them that templates are bad.  Get creative!  Look around your classroom and let it speak to you.  Worried about themes?  Not a problem, you'd be surprised with what you can come up with on a whim and make it work to your theme.  I am here to help!  Besides art, I'll also share ideas for sensory play and music and movement.  This is about fun.

If you have ideas, share them with me and I'll try them out, take pictures, and post.  Sharing is learning.  Join me on this adventure and if you like what I have to offer, then please, share my blog with others.

"Imagination is the seed of dreams.  Nurture it and you will harvest its rewards." - Flavia