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.

All You Need is Love...& It's Playtime

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  Tonight, I have to finish my 5 year old son's Valentines because his attention span is all of 1 minute.  He wrote his name on 1, that's right, 1 Valentine out of 24.  But this week on It's Playtime, all you need is.....

This fun Love Painting was shared by Seattle Area Lifestyle Photographer.  It's creative, messy, and perfect for sharing on Valentine's Day.

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
* 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: 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.

Kool-Aid Ice Play

We know how much fun Kool-Aid can be when it comes to art.  Bloggers have shared everything from painting to tie dying with the stuff.  We've even used it to create Art in the Rain.  But in this summer heat why not freeze the Kool-Aid for some cool, ice painting?  Take it outdoors and enjoy the fun!    

 Set a bowl of frozen cubes out for the children to explore.  Instead of paper, I gave them paper towels for creating their works of art.  They absorb more then paper, plus construction paper tends to shred when it's wet.  You could also use coffee filters.

 "It's cold!"  

This is a great project for little ones on a warm day.  Not only is it good sensory art, but this "paint" is safe for them to put in their mouths.  If you're concerned about germs, give them each separate bowls and keep a close eye on them.

As the ice melts, it creates a unique blend of colors.  Leave the paper towels to dry and you have a colorful work of art. 


What You'll Need:

• Several flavors of Kool-Aid (desired colors).  You'll want to buy the cheap packets without sugar, not the canisters.  
• Water
• Sugar (optional)
• Ice cube tray or small dixi cups with popsicle sticks
• Absorbant paper towels  

To Create Kool-Aid Ice Paint:

• Mix packets of Kool-Aid with water.  You can add the amount suggested on the package but I went with less.  Less water gives a more vibrant color.  
• You can add sugar (knowing the kids will eat it) but it may cause stickiness.  I left the sugar out thinking they would taste the cubes and not want to eat them.  I was wrong.  Kids are not afraid of tart ice cubes!  
• Pour mixture into ice cube trays or small dixi cups.  You can add a popsicle stick, creating a handle for the paint.  My group of kids could have cared less.  
• Freeze
• Once frozen, pop those suckers out of the tray and enjoy the messy fun!  

It's Playtime: Get Outdoors!

Rain or shine you'll find It's Playtime! pals enjoying the outdoors.  Check out these great activities sure to get you and your kids outside! 

I love Forest Tots!  What kid wouldn't enjoy an outdoor preschool/playgroup experience in the woods?  They even play in the rain!  Last week they shared Parachute Games with Water.  Bless them for not being afraid of a little rain and using it in play.  My kind of families!    

 How about some good, clean, messy fun?  Play Create Explore shared their Saving Cream Slip-n-Slide.  You don't even need a real slip-n-slide for this fantastic activity!  

Looking for something less messy or wet?  Beautiful Somehow shared their Clothesline Play which combined fine motor practice with a quiet outdoor activity.

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: Keeping it Simple

As teachers, homeschoolers, and parents, sometimes art projects seem to get away from us.  We tend to turn them into a big ordeal, or maybe we don't do them at all because we're avoiding all the work. But process art projects SHOULD be easy.  When I taught preschool, my motto was, "if it takes more then 5 minuets to set up, then you are doing too much."  For process art, you should generally open a cupboard, assess your supplies, and put together a project in a snap.  Kids are easy.  Mess is good.  Keeping it simple is key!

This week on It's Playtime, I'm featuring blogs who kept it simple when it came to art.  Because as parents and teachers, who really has time to complicate things?  

What could be simpler then painting a rock?  Playful Learners shared how Decorating Beach Pebbles can turn from a fun beach activity to an easy art project at home.  I love the simplicity of opening an old magazine to catch the mess rather then spreading newspaper all around the table and floor!  

How about some Magic Painting?  "Magic?" you say, "how is that simple?"  Well who hasn't done crayon resist painting at least once in their lives?  I spent a good portion of my elementary school years painting underwater scenes and haunted houses at home simply because I LOVED crayon resist painting!  Well, why not try it in preschool?  That's just what Pre-school Play did and their kids loved it!  Their paintings may not have been full of fish and mermaids, but they certainly were magic...and simple!  

Creativity My Passion used a Toothbrush as a Paintbrush for their art!  Who doesn't have an old (bleach gets the germies out!) or extra toothbrush laying around?  And Esther went beyond the toothbrush by turning it over and trying Tongue Cleaner Stamping.  Two projects in one!  Check out her blog because from there, she used the toothbrush for several more projects as well.      

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.