Rainy Day Water Colour Painting

In my work with young children I often find myself challenging mental blocks I have put into place, a big one being that I don't really enjoy being in the rain! If you see me with the children you would never guess I don't like the rain because we are always outside no matter what the weather is. Although my personal preference is to not be outside when it's raining, I know the importance of children experiencing playing outdoors, especially in the rain!

When we go outside during rainy days we usually puddle jump, play in the mud, look for worms, collect dripping water, etc. I wanted a different experience for the children, something we don't usually do outside. One day while painting inside I thought to myself, "What if we bring the water colours out on a rainy day?" I put this thought into action on a day it was pouring outside. With boots on our feet and art materials in our hands we headed out to the porch to paint in the rain.

Setup

I gave each child a large thick piece of card stock paper, this was to prevent the paper from immediately melting when it got wet. I also used wooden blocks I had found on the porch to hold the paper down as it was pretty windy with the rain. I put the water colour disks in the middle of all the papers so the children could all access the colours they wanted. I also provided water cups for each child and brushes. If you're someone who gets worried about spills this is great because they're already in splash gear! And yes, they will get wet and messy during this experience, but that's the fun part.

This, like many other experiences I provide, is open-ended meaning I had no "final product" in mind as it was the process I was interested in observing and being present in.

The Process

They all started painting quickly after everything was set out as this was an exciting new experience! We have done painting outdoors before but it's usually during bright and dry days. I noticed almost immediately that each child approached the materials in their own way and at their own pace. I sat back and watched, responded, and asked questions.

The colours blended in ways we had never seen before as it was not only a painting done by the children, but by the natural elements as well. The brush was pushing the paint as well as the wind and rain. Together the children and the environment worked to create beautiful art.

I noticed a child had been picking up the paint pucks, but it wasn't until I paid closer attention that I realized she had been creating her own personal paint pallet away from everyone else. She used the blocks to hold the paint she wanted at different levels and in a way that was easy for her to access as she painted.

The Unexpected

The children did something so innovative and unexpected while they painted: they began stomping on the water colour paint as if it were a puddle (it was raining after all!) I was able to grab my camera fast enough to catch them stomping.

Try Something Different!

This experience offered so much to not only the children but to myself as well. I would love for other people to try this out, but I think the real lesson to take away is to try something different. Don't be afraid to do something a little out of the ordinary, something that might get messy, because in those moments is where learning happens.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” - Walt Disney

I hope this post helps you in your interactions with children in your care. If you'd like to have a conversation, or have any questions feel free to reach me through the contact form on the main page of my blog. Thanks for reading!