June 12, 2018

Painting with Recycled Cardboard Tubes

Painting with Recycled Cardboard Tubes.

Over the weekend a friend came over with a bag full of treasure! Not the sparkly kind, but the recycled, endless possibilities kind! A bag full of empty cardboard tubes. There’s so many different sizes and they’re all nice and strong. The daycare educator in me, did a little dance with the thought of the fun to come. Painting with recycled cardboard tubes, was something I had done with the children at work and that was the first thing I wanted to set up for the twins.

No Washing Up!

One of the best things about painting with recycled items is that there’s no washing up paint brushes and paint pots when the kids have finished. Obviously painting with toddlers is always going to be messy and as people like to point out to me (every time) I go to the shop; twins can sometimes mean double trouble. In the case of painting, I would say more like double the mess. So I didn’t have any washing up to do, but I did have to wash 4 little hands, 2 little faces, the wall, the table, 1 foot and the floor. But…. the tubes and the egg cartons which I used to hold the paint, I just put up to dry and use again next time.

Getting Prepared.

The kids had been entertaining themselves for most of the morning while I folded washing and cleaned the kitchen. Just before 11 they started sitting by me feet and asking me to pick them up. It was a little early for lunch and the rain seems to be never ending at the moment. Now was the perfect time to set up the painting with the cardboard tubes.

I put the scissors into the end of the tube and snipped a centre metre or so up the tube. Then I moved the scissors over a little and did the same again. I snipped the whole way around the end of the tube and then pressed the little sections out. I’m not so sure that’s the best way to describe it, let me show you a picture so you’ll know what I’m talking about;

We go through soooo many eggs in this house, so we have a massive supply of empty egg cartons. The lids are perfect for paint experiences and I can give the kids one each to lessen the arguing about who has what.

I let the kids choose the colours. They started with, pink, blue and green. After putting their aprons on and placing everything on the table for them, try were straight into it. I didn’t give them any instructions, just decided to let them decide what they wanted to do themselves.

Norah started with the little tube and made green circles all over her page. Cole did follow her lead at first, but then had other ideas, slowly covering his hands with paint. He then made circles with his finger tip, happily declaring, ‘Circle’ each time that he finished.

The twins quickly ran out of paint and room on their paper. I gave them new paper and they chose some more colours to add to their eggs carton trays. They are getting so good at colour recognition.

They were so engaged in painting with recycled cardboard tubes that I was even able to stand I the kitchen (with one eye on them the whole time of course) and cut up lunch! There was no complaining at my feet, pulling at my legs or wrestling on the kitchen floor haha.

The only time they needed my help was when they had ran out of room on their paper and needed a new sheet. Little did they know that they were making the wrapping paper for their very own birthday presents at the end of the week!

Massive Win!

So the kids were painting and I was preparing 3 plates of food. I couldn’t help myself but pull apart some of the chicken and have a nibble. I was sprung by Norah, who then insisted she needed to have some chicken. What most of you won’t know however is that she will never eat chicken. She always leaves it on her plate. Cole on the other hand would probably eat a whole one if I let him.

I cut some into small pieces and told her I had to put it in her mouth so she didn’t get paint on it. To my surprise (and huge excitement) not only did she open her mouth, but she chewed it up, swallowed it and then said, “More chicken”!! Both kids continued painting as I hand fed them roast chicken. Knowing Norah, she’ll probably never eat it again, but it truely made me feel like there was hope.

Messy Hands.

Norah and Cole painted for a whole hour. They created many master pieces. I will choose a couple to frame and put on the wall and the others will be used as wrapping paper. Just before it was time to clean up, both kids covered their whole hands in the paint and made a proper mess of themselves. Here’s my tip to you for cleaning paint off of toddlers hands before it spreads all over the house. Use dry paper towel first. You might need a couple, but it work so much better than trying something wet first. Then once the bulk of it is removed, use a flannel or wet ones (in our house with CF I prefer wet ones) to finish them off.