CHILD-INITIATED
'Paint' the nursery outdoor area!
Resources
Variety of decorators' paintbrushes, rollers, sponges, paintbrushes used for artwork, buckets, water.
Play suggestions
* Encourage the children to 'paint' using the utensils dipped in water. They can paint walls, fences, climbing frames, whatever is available.
* Get them to experiment on different surfaces.
* Using normal children's paintbrushes, they can practise letter and number formation, producing patterns and exercises related to handwriting techniques.
* Encourage them to make large sweeping and repetitive patterns that foster good hand control. Don't forget to have a go yourself and provide a role model for correct formation.
* Many children enjoy filling in an outline such as a paving stone, or bricks on a wall. This promotes concentration and perseverance and can be a calming activity for overactive or agitated children.
* Watching their artwork gradually dry up and disappear can promote scientific investigation. A child may be distressed by the 'loss' of their creation, so always provide playground chalk as an alternative.
Possible learning outcomes
* Explores painting
* Observes others
* Works alone/alongside/in partnership with others
* Initiates writing/drawing
* Pursues task to a personal conclusion
* Role plays painting and decorating
* Demonstrates correct letter/number formation
* Produces repeating patterns
* Sustains concentration regardless of distractions
* Revisits activity.
