Window Painting

What You Need:

• Newspapers
• Tape
• Paintbrushes
• Containers for paint
• Liquid tempera paints
• Optional: Dish soap
• Optional: Water
• Optional: Shoe polish

What You Do:

1. Help your child tape newspaper to the bottom edges of windows to protect the floors and ledges. You'll be painting on the inside of the window so that rain will not wash off the painting.
2. Discuss with your child what he might want to draw on the window. Paint something to celebrate an occasion such as a holiday scene, or use holiday colors to paint any design your child wishes.
3. Pour the paint into the containers. You can mix powdered tempera paint with liquid dish-washing soap and water for easy removal. Or for variation, mix the paint with white shoe polish and the applicators which come in the polish bottles. This is very easy to clean up, and white shoe polish makes for great snow scenes as well.
4. Leave the design on the windows for as many days or weeks as you want.
5. When the holiday season is over, wash the design off with a sponge and soapy water. (This can be a messy job, so dress appropriately!)

Note: The longer the paint is left on the window, the harder it is to remove. Also, if you feel squeamish about letting your child paint on the actual glass, cover the window with a large sheet of cellophane and paint on that instead of the window.