Quarry Splash Pad

A few weeks ago I took Logan to the Quarry Splash Pad in Cedar Park.  We tried the sand part first.  Logan wasn't really into that.  (Good thing we didn't get him that sandbox for his birthday.)

Then we moved onto the water part.  While we did get some time in the sprinklers, after a while, all Logan wanted to do was hang out under the bridge and watch.

Arts & Crafts Activity: Sand Painting

The son of a friend of mine takes all these cool classes near where he lives in Brooklyn.  Last night, Bari blogged about the art class Asher was taking.  I thought it looked very cool.  I told her I wished I had the time and money to send Logan to a class like that.  She replied--"Aren't you and art teacher?? :)"  Well, yes I am , I told her, but while at times it may seem like my students are in fact infants, teaching high school kids is not the same as teaching a 20-month-old.

But, it got me to thinking.   So, I did some Internet research.  I wanted to try my hand at something before our spring break was over.  Well, first I ordered a book, First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos, which I hope to use this coming summer.  Next, I looked at some websites.  With ideas in hand, Logan and I headed to Target and to Michael's.  We loaded up on some supplies.  We came home, played for a bit, had lunch, then Logan went down for his nap.  I thought it would be best to wait until after nap time to try our first at-home arts & crafts "experiment."

I read about using contact paper as the base to put things on like cut paper, pom poms, and other things like that.  I remembered that I had some colored sand left over from a ceramic piece I did back at UT. 

From there, it was game on.  I set up a the colored sand in cupcake wrappers (not the best idea in hindsight) and taped down a piece of contact paper.  I gave him the sand and let him go.  He dumped the sand while picking up the "cups", but then he spread out the sand and moved it from place to place.  When he was finished, I mounted the contact paper to a large piece of white paper.   I then taped up all the edges, just so no sand could try and escape.

It was a fun activity and one that we will try again.

Today's Arts & Crafts activity:  sand painting.

Discovering the sand.

Removing the cups from the tin was easier for him.

I think I'll pour some yellow sand here.

Now let's rub it around.

I'm all done Ma.

Logan's Sand Painting Masterpiece.

Now if only I can muster the courage for finger paints.