Everything's Coming Up Rainbows

I've had to dial back my expectations when we do arts and crafts.  Repeatedly.  While I never had any thought that the kids would follow my directions I did sort of think that they would replicate a few of my examples.  Then I realized they would not replicate anything.  They would explore.  And create.  And copy only if it suited them.  That said, our projects are mostly mine at this point.  The kids just join in as they feel led.  Sometimes riding along.  Other times derailing the train entirely.  And occasionally, ignoring the existence of the tracks.

To sum up, this little gem pretty much describes how things go when we do art and crafts.

We spent the last week exploring rainbows.  Our first attempt at rainbow art was with pastel marshmallows.  I drew out a rainbow with four rows (we had four marshmallow colors) and predrew some dots inside each row to help them see where to place each marshmallow.  The kids helped me sort the marshmallows by color and then add a few to the starters I'd preglued in each row.  The trouble was they liked repositioning the glued marshmallows quite alot.  And Caden loved squeezing the glue bottle best of all.  So it ended up being a good thing that I was out of cotton balls and we instead had to use torn paper towels for the clouds, they absorbed all that glue!  I confess, I wanted them to look like rainbows.  So I filled in a bunch, corrected and replaced a few, and basically had a whole lot less fun than the kids did.  I give this project a "D".  While it looks awesome, it wasn't kid-driven.  And in the end they had way more fun scooping and pouring the leftover marshmallows in our sand/water table.  

Then I got inspired and decided to set up some coffee filter rainbow art.  I flattened a few cheap-o coffee filters and taped them to the toddler table.  Then drew a rough rainbow with the kids' markers.  I set out two small cups of water and two small water color brushes.  Then I showed the kids how to paint the rainbow colors with water to make them bleed together.

All was going well, and this project was on it's way to at least a "B" until this happened...

PS  Addison did think about it.  And then did it.  The filters did finally dry, though most of the color had run off and into the floor by the time I grabbed them.  So technically, there was a finished product.  Additionally attempts at filter art continue to result in immediate pouring at the moment.  Maybe we'll try these again with a different brush, or on an easel outside in a few weeks and see what happens.  Grade = C

Then Mom went to Crazy Town.  I mentioned a few days ago that I'd spent a fair amount of time and effort making Rainbow Knox Blocks.  I used this site to do so, only I couldn't find green Kool Aid.  I mean, I thought I had.  Until I got home and realized it was in a green package, and was kiwi-strawberry flavored.  But was CLEAR.  So I had to add my own food coloring.  Then I realized the blue package of tropical punch was actually reddish-purple.  So I added some blue food coloring and edible blue iridescent powder (left over from my sister's wedding shower a while back).  Which basically made it look not-quite-red-but-not-quite-purple-and-kind-of-like-fish-scales.  Also, each color filled only a little bit of each pan, so the blocks were really thin.  And sometimes hard to remove from the tin.  But I persevered.  And set this up in the driveway, armed with extra wipes and my camera.

Caden explored it for a few seconds.  Decided it felt cold and looked interesting.  But not as interesting as his Cozy Coupe police cruiser.  So off he went.  Addison felt it a few times but was largely uninterested as well.  They did come back to the table a few times, but never really engaged with it.  In fact, this was the best it got...

After that, it melted.  Into a puddles of sticky brown goo.  That smelled good enough to eat but looked like atomic slime.  I tried reviving it by icing it down but then it just became cold, sticky, brown, atomic juice.  Which they actually might have liked to play with.  But I'd already whisked the stuff off into the woods for fear of Kool Aid covered twincicles becoming bee magnets.  Complete and total failure.  This project receives an embarrassing "F".  In red.  With a frownie face.  And a note to see the teacher.  

Next up was some sticker art.  We used plain old colored dots.  I made a sample rainbow and prepped the kids papers with some guide marks.  Then put three colors of sticker dots on the tips of my fingers so that all they had to do was pick and place.  (And peel and place, and peel and place...)  Their art was beautiful.  But I'm not seeing anything that resembles a rainbow.  Perhaps they're in their impressionist period.

I did think that their attempt to wear their art was rather adorable, however.  Rainbow dots are the new black, didn't you know?!?  Final grade...  "B".  Art was produced.  In two forms.  And neither was exceptionally directed by me.  Bonus, not much prep and not much mess.  Because Addison ran around "keckting" for about an hour after we were done.  Though she missed the one dot that was on the back of Travis' shirt for the rest of the day (including a trip to Sears).  I hope no one thought he was marked for a yard sale!

Being one who doesn't admit defeat easily, I pulled one last rainbow project out of the piles of internet ideas I've been stashing away.  We made rainbow waffles.  Actually we made waffles yesterday, and then today for snack I pulled out two leftovers.  Along with a little milk paint (and I do mean little, I am nothing if not teachable).  I used an old vitamin dropper to get a few drops of milk into the paint wells and added a drop or two of food coloring.  Then they painted away.  For about 3 seconds.   

 With more encouragement I got a few extra brush strokes.  And they were done.  But who argues with masters?!?  I popped those babies in toaster oven and they ate them for snack with a side of sliced banana. 

This project receives a "B" as well.  Because the process and end result was totally theirs.  The product was not at all what I'd envisioned.  But I was ok with it.  I was just glad the paint stayed in the wells and they didn't paint each other instead of the waffles!  

Overall, we had fun this week.  In spite of the messes, the failed projects and unrealistic expectations.  Because I am realizing that this is how we get to the place that they use glue for logical purposes.  Where they don't have to explore mediums, they create with them, because they know what each one can do.  And where their creations are recognizable.  All of which will actually make me equal parts proud and sad when they occur.  

While increased motor control, imagination and creativity are things I can't wait for...  the day that they decide rainbows have to be shaped like a half circle, live in the sky and be made up of between four and eight colors will be the day that they become a little more... like me.  Grown up.  Defined.  Aware.  Rigid.  And...  boring.  I mean, who grades their own art invitations?  Seriously?!?

I really would prefer to live in their world, than for them to live in mine.  For how glorious, how ridiculously expansive it is, to live beyond the lines.  Unbound by a model.  Free to test and try.  To create and recreate.  To ignore what you don't care to see.  And to be done when you feel like it.  To have no judgement in your heart.  No expectations of yourself.  And to find bliss in everything.  Yes, these little precious people have alot to teach me.  About rainbows.  And so much more.