Messy Paint Bombs {and a lesson in parenting and knowing my child}

We tried making some messy paint bombs last weekend. I have been trying to discover fun ways to get my son excited about painting and creating, and I thought throwing balls or bombs of paint would be a fun exercise. Fail. He looked at it, turned his head, and went back to “mowing” the lawn. I was pretty disappointed about this because I really thought this would be a winner. I have to know, and accept, that sensorially speaking, he does not like to get his hands paint-y (at all). I know a lot of other children who are this way, and that is not a problem.

How could I be sad that he is who he is? Or that he is happy just walking around in our yard “mowing”? (For hours on end?) He mows in straight lines, gets his weed whip, his edger, and his blower all out too. I have a perfect lawn every day :)

I wrote about Connecting with my son and how boys learn a couple weeks back, and this is just another lesson in learning him and loving him and accepting him. His needs are above my desire to “craft” or do “fun art.” I am a mama who wants so badly to be creative or try new ideas, but there is really no motivation — besides this blog or hoping that maybe my daughter may like it or smile a bit without trying to put it in her mouth. I am learning to just relax. There is no need to try anymore (no, seriously, and I say this with a smile) because it just makes a big mess and a slightly sad mama. Don’t get me wrong, I will still be trying to find new ways for my son to create and play, but I think I will take a break from paint.

I know, in terms of sensory play: he loves water play and swimming, he loves beans or lentils with his cars, he loved gelatin play, he loves practical life activities, he likes play dough and other sensory doughs, and hugs :)

(Is this all very comical? Considering, on Thursday, I will be sharing 10 Messy Outdoor Painting Activities as part of the Top Ten Summer Learning Activities series with some other very lovely mama bloggers?!)

But I digress! Maybe your sweet one will love these little paint bombs and have a blast and play for hours :) My daughter thought they were fun, and she dabbled about with the paint. She got paint all over her tummy and legs and hands and arms and she was just the cutest. Afterwards, we got the kiddie pool out and the kids played around all afternoon — John did enjoy the water fun :)

Messy painting should be done outside, if at all possible, because there is less clean up for mama! And children don’t have to worry about getting the floor or cupboards, etc. messy :)

All you need to make messy paint bombs are some old pantyhose and some rice. Hilarious, right? Well I did this with my kindergarteners a while (long while) back, with their sweet easels.

Just cut your old pantyhose, make one knot, fill with rice, knot the other end. Easy peasy. Feels super great in little hands.Then I set up some paint and a long sheet of Ikea paper, held down with rocks. This was the “invitation to create and paint.”
I showed my son — who then ran off — then I showed my daughter, who liked it a bit more than my son.

Less paint creates some beautiful “fireworks” — which would be a fun patriotic or Fourth of July extension — just only provide white, red, and blue paint! (Or your country’s flag colors of choice :)

More paint creates big blobs, but both are beautiful with different colors. You can use Tempera paint, or another homemade paint recipe.My daughter ended up just painting the paint on the old paper bag (and herself). But she did have some beautiful smiles, which brightened my day. I don’t have a ton of pictures — didn’t want the camera to get messy — and she was nake-y.