One activity, four ways is a new, regular feature on Childhood 101. I am often asked how to modify an activity idea or resource for children who are younger or older than Immy, or how to involve children of different ages in an activity. One activity, four ways will take one idea (or resource) and present ways to engage babies, toddlers, preschoolers and bigger kids with it.
Today we are exploring … TEXTURE!
Babies
Stitch lengths of a range of different fabrics together to form long scarves. Stuff into a recycled tissue box or make a hole in a small, sturdy box, leaving a short end poking out. Older babies will enjoy pulling the scarf from the box and stuffing it back in again.
Toddlers
Make a textured collage by cutting shapes from a range of textured paper, fabric and recyclables – for example, sandpaper for rough, corrugated cardboard or bubble wrap for bumpy, cotton wool or faux fur for soft, cellophane or silk for smooth and alfoil for crinkly.
Preschoolers
Send your preschooler outdoors with unwrapped crayons and paper on a texture hunt. Challenge them to see how many different textures they can find to take rubbings from. Once back inside, add colour and interest to your rubbings by painting over them with liquid watercolours or food colouring. Or cut the textured paper up into shapes and make a collage.
Bigger Kids
On heavy paper or card, older children can make (or trace previously drawn) pictures with thick PVA or craft glue (small amounts of flour or cornflour may help to thicken glue). Once dry, the texture of the glue on the paper creates an interesting base for a crayon rubbing.
Related Posts
- Edible Fingerpaint
- Kids Art: Learning to Use Watercolours
- Kids Art: Oil Pastel Wash
- Keeping Creative Mess Contained
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
