Ink Wash Painting

What You Need:

• White paper
• Markers
• Plastic bag
• Brush
• Small container

What You Do:

1. Start by getting out a set of markers and doing some basic color recognition with your child. Hold up a marker and see if she can tell you what color it is. Not only are you honing your child’s color recognition skills, but you're encouraging language skills, too.
2. Invite your child to help get the work area ready by covering it with a large plastic bag. The first part of the project isn’t so messy – but the second part can get crazy! If you can work outdoors, it’s a lot less clean up in the end.
3. Encourage your child to select her favorite color of marker and begin drawing all over the paper. She can keep coloring with different colors making lots of loops and lines until she’s satisfied with her creation.
4. Now place some water in a small container and offer your child a large brush. Invite her to dip her brush in the water and then wash the water all over her paper watching as the maker changes and bleeds together.
5. Encourage your child to continue dipping and washing until her whole paper is covered in water and then observe what happens to the paper as it dries.
6. Your child can enjoy making lots and lots of marker washes and then use the finished creations for wrapping paper!