One of my favorite ways to nurture creativity in my children is to give them opportunities to explore different artistic mediums. It was so fun to see each kid interact differently with our glitter glue pens this past week! Johnny (four years old) was all about layering colors and seeing how high he could pile the glue before it would start spreading out. Emma (six years old) seemed to enjoy the process of manipulating the glue in different ways – making piles of glue, spreading it out, and seeing if colors would mix. Lily (two years old) used her favorite colors (pink and purple) to make a picture. Three very different approaches, but a very fun artistic activity!
Do you have a favorite exploratory art activity? How do you enjoy encouraging creativity in childhood?
Learning Laboratory is a space to share hands-on, fun, and creative learning experiences for children. I would love for you to add your posts to my linky, and text links back or sharing my button is always appreciated! A favorite for me last week was this silly sensory ball painting from B. Inspired, Mama! I also really loved her 10 tips for teaching puzzle skills. This Lego Library Land from Miss Courtney Meets Bobo is Learning Laboratory Paradise! Any child would enjoy making this torn paper earth collage from Like Mama Like Daughter, and I think little boys especially would enjoy this monster truck sight word mash game from Train Up a Child. And, I am utterly amazed by this play house – complete with children’s book bunting – from Sunnydaytodaymama.









Anna loves experiments, but in our house it’s usually science rather than art. She especially loves making soapy water in different containers during her bath, seeing when her boat will sink, etc.
Visit Natalie … Week in Review–May 6, 2012
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 7:26 am
Johnny is more like Anna :)
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I love how they each enjoy a different approach to the same medium.
Visit Elisa | blissfulE … Vi “reads” to a Duplo family
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 7:49 am
That’s what I loved about this, too :)
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Priscilla loves glitter glue, too. I think she just loves exploring the cause and effect of squeezing and squirting it onto the paper. Then she likes to take a paint brush and spread it around. Thanks for hosting the Learning Laboratory as always! :)
Visit Krissy @ B.Inspired Mama … Kids Craft: Mom’s Sleeping Door Hanger for Mother’s Day
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 8:03 am
I’ll have to try Priscilla’s paintbrush extension with my kids – bet they’d like it!
Thanks for linking up!
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I like glitter glue! A bit less messy than loose glitter.
The kids did some creative writing this weekend. My daughter scribed for my 4 year old!
Visit Ann … Look What I Found…
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
That is so sweet that your daughter scribed for your 4yo! Sounds like a fun weekend :)
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We’re all about glitter glue here, especially Princess. My kids seem to go for the more is better plan.
Visit Ticia … Around the World in 12 Dishes: Russia
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
lol somehow that doesn’t surprise me. Johnny would have a blast with them :)
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My 3 yr old loves piling the glitter glue up high too. Yesterday he created a huge mound of it and then stuck some google eyes on it. Then it all got smooshed (is that a word?) and flattened again. Lots of fun.
Visit Ness @ One Perfect Day … {Ice-Skating in the Living Room}
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I love the idea of adding googly eyes!
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I love glitter glue – J loves it when I get it out but so far we’ve had so much trouble getting it out the tube that it’s very much a “Mummy do it” activity.
We’ve had such a fun learning and creative week I hope you don’t mind me linking up a few posts
Visit Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum … Day 16 – 30 days to hands on play
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I find some tubes are easier than others, for some reason…
I loved all the posts you linked up – thanks! What a fun week you had!!!
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I found the best glitter glue…if you are interested…email me and I will send you a link…it rocks!
Visit sherri … Fresh Egg Breakfast…DINOSAUR STYLE!!!
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Sure! I always love hearing about great art supplies for kids!
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Bobo really likes dry-erase markers still. He loves erasing and making it look different each time. He gets upset when he can’t erase on paper, now. My favorite project we did was scrape painting.
Visit Miss Courtney … Book Review: Oh No, GEORGE! by Chris Haughton
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
We haven’t tried scrape painting! Thanks for the idea!
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Rosie loves glitter glue! She loves squeezing the entire tube into one giant heap, and then using er hands to spread it all over the paper.
Visit crystal@growingajeweledrose … Goop and Ice Sensory Play
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maryanne Reply:
May 7th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
I can’t imagine any of my kids willingly touching glitter glue – we need Rosie to come teach them about proper sensory play!
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Glitter glue is SO fun to play with!
Visit Jen … choose the high road :: risk
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Thank you for hosting this linky party–lots of great ideas!!
Visit Hannah … Extended Breastfeeding
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Glitter glue is so fun. It’s sure hard to clean up though. LOL!
Visit Jenny … Homeschool Weekly Review: April 30 – May 4
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Another bathtime scientist and potion maker in our house and now I am wondering how glitter glue would work in soapy water…
Thanks for linking to our play house. :)
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I too love letting kids explore with different art mediums! When I was a nanny, I used to love making new art materials such as different types of paints and playdough for them to work with. They got to make the art supplies AND do art with it! Glitter glue is also one of my favorites. I just wish the tubes weren’t always so tiny!
Visit Angel Read … Egg Lessons
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My favorite art activities are the process oriented ones. It allows for individual creativity. I love seeing how each kid interprets the materials.
Visit Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories … A Nature Walk with Daddy
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My kids *LOVE* art projects. Especially ones where glue is involved. They’re still talking about the colored shaving cream from over a month ago!
Visit Tracye … Progress on the House
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