The wisdom passed on from  grandparents to their grandchildren can never be underestimated. This week our craft activity takes us on a little painting excursion with a grandfather and his granddaughter. Grandparents often seem to have so much more patience with our children than we do. Perhaps  age and wisdom or maybe it is reflection on what they didn’t do with their own children or maybe it is the pure luxury of time. Whatever the reason, the gentle and encouraging way that this grandfather teaches his grandaughter the basics of water colour painting is truly lovely to watch! Tobie carefully watches as her grandpa puts brush to paper and the way she carefully tries to follow his instructions is adorable. Of course like any four year old she has her own method which reflects her self expression ( as well as her love of black paint). But this never phases grandpa, he doesn’t have the need to control or change her picture but rather constantly praises her.

 Tobie and her grandpa Sandy worked with watercolour paints, pencils and watercolour paper. As they were taking their painting oudoors, it was important that they didn’t have too much to carry. Sandy had a p0rtable easle, but Tobie just had her paper attached to a board so that she could work with it on her lap. She carried her own little fold out chair and just had a couple of brushes and some watercolour paints in her backpack. While it is great to just give a child a whole lot different materials and just let them “go for it”, it is also really nice to sometimes use adult quality materials when you have the opportunity to sit and work with them. They love it, feel special and a framed work of art makes the child so proud!

What you will need for this activity:

• Watercolour paints
• Watercolour paper
• range of watercolour brushes
• board
• tape
• water
• fold out chair
• nature!