Winter Crafts for Families with Young Children: Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting for Parent & Child

Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting for you and your child - 3/4 years and older

Since becoming a mama and working with moms in my naturopathic practice and mama mentoring work I have developed a particular love for the things that are nourishing for children AND parents at the same time and inspire connection, calm and delight.

From a wellness point of view both children and parents (mothers in particular) benefit from an attention to their nervous system and adrenal glands (stress glands). Creating simple rhythms/structures during the day/week so the thinking mind isn’t over engaged and the child can feel held and relax (having a sense of what’s coming next) is one aspect that supports not only a child’s nervous system and adrenals but mom’s as well. This simplifying and organizing is something I work with with most moms who come to me feeling tired or overwhelmed.

Waldorf education holds so many practical gems in this area of creating wellness. Their emphasis on certain materials, activities and pace/rhythm of the day all work together to create an engaging, calm, simple, supportive environment for the growing child’s nervous system to be healthy and integrated vs overstimulated and unregulated. This was one of the qualities of Waldorf Early Childhood Education that as a mom and holistic doctor really impressed me and drew me in. In the early days when I attended the Waldorf-inspired mother and child class with my then 3 year old son and newborn daughter I could feel the unwinding of my own nervous system with the beauty and simplicity of the space and the pace and songs and walking in nature and story. I’d leave feeling embodied, calm, grounded and replenished.

Watercoloring in this wet-on-wet style is a calming and integrating activity. For children the focus isn’t on creating a picture but on experiencing color. The wet-on-wet style makes it hard to create defined pictures anyway helping this be more simply for the experience of it. When the picture dries it’s fun for the children and adults to use their imagination to see what comes out - maybe they see a fish or dog or angel …

Children take in color in a deeper way than we do due to their consciousness(in the dreamy theta brain wave state) and the unique way they therefore take in the world. Just painting with one color at a time is a good way to begin with the younger ones. Not gonna lie it’s a pretty chill activity (which most of us can use more of lol!) - long strokes and very much about the process. As a parent your modelling of it will show the child. Take this as time for your enjoyment and pause and fill up your cup and your child’s at the same time. (insert emoji of celebration here!)

When to do it:

Pick the right time in the day for it and if you enjoy it do it regularly. It’s a quieter activity so maybe you do it after you’ve spent time moving/outside. When we did it regularly Sunday before dinner worked and Friday mornings after outside play with some of my daughter’s friends.

Friday a.m.

***A Waldorf Painting Verse***
*The sunlight shines into each day*
*And sends the dark of night away*
*It brings the colors to my eyes*
*The bright green earth, the deep blue skies.*
*The yellow sun, the red, red rose*
*That in the gentle garden grows.*
*And from within my loving heart*
*The light always conquers dark*
*So on my paper let it be*
*Sunlight and water – joyfully.*
*-Author Unknown*

What You’ll Need* :

*Note - If you are a family at Alpenglow School you can email Maureen @ info@alpenglowschool.ca and order all the supplies needed through their account with their Waldorf Supplies Wholesaler Mercurius. I would highly recommend this as shipping can be pricey due to the weight and size of paper and boards.

Here’s a link to see what Mercurius carries: Paints- https://www.mercurius-canada.com/index-21_34-water_colours.html Paper - https://www.mercurius-canada.com/shop,25_269,painting_paper.html

For those of you not in Canmore, here are some links:

Stockmar paints
Primary colors set - https://www.amazon.ca/Stockmar-Watercolor-Paint-Assortment-Ultramarine/dp/B01E0QWNE0/ref=asc_df_B01E0QWNE0/?tag=googleshopc0c20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292998809510&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15888450411873222297&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001307&hvtargid=pla-570517785065&psc=1
Brushes (horse hair or synthetic) that are kid size (an inch wide brush and about 8” of wood). As I was looking for links to supplies I noticed that this company has all of the supplies and is great for all items if you live in the States. Doesn’t ship large/heavy items internationally. They carry my favourite kids paint brush 8.6” long, bristles 7/8” wide. https://www.bellalunatoys.com/products/waldorf-watercolor-paint-brush which you can get through Alpenglow School if you are affiliated with the school.
Watercolor paper - thick and textured - 14 “ x 19” or 12” x 18”
Painting boards - 16” x 21” or 12” x 18”
Here’s one from amazon a bit smaller than I’d like but ok if you trim the paper before soaking it - https://www.amazon.ca/Wooden-Painting-11-81in-Poplar-Sketch/dp/B07YSN9LGS/ref=sr_1_49?keywords=painting+boards+watercolor&qid=1579808422&sr=8-49
Baby food jars

How to Do it :

1. Soak watercolor paper in cold water in your sink or a basin for 5-10 minutes (longer for heavier paper—- the heavier the paper the better in my opinion). Place each paper separately in the water so both sides get coated with water,

2. Place water color on painting board. Gently sponge off the excess water.

3. Mix watercolor and water about 1:1 in a little baby jar/container - some people dilute it a lot more up to 1 (part paint):4 (parts water) - you can experiment. Up to age 9 you can just work with the primary colors (yellow, blue and red) - letting them discover over time all the colors of the rainbow from these three is pretty neat.

If you buy the bigger Stockmar paints I recommend getting crimson red, cobalt blue and lemon yellow or golden yellow and putting each in a mason jar with water and then keep it covered in the fridge. This way you can just stir and pour what you need in a little jar as you need it. This makes it easy to get painting when you are inspired to - otherwise the thought of a big set up makes it just not happen.

4. Have clear water to clean brush so you don't muddy the colors going from one to the other. A cloth/sponge to wipe brush on helps.

5. Let dry.

Helpful to know: Watercolor painting for kids is not a long activity - the prep is longer than the time painting but it's worth it ... meditative and connecting.

The creations can be used for cards, labels, wrapping paper, to hang … the cool thing is that the young child is able with this medium to produce something that is truly beautiful (not just to mom and dad’s eyes!) and get some soul nourishment from the process and flow state time with you. (-:

Enjoy! xo, Dr. Monika

FYI - Dr. Monika has mini-classes on how to do this - if you and 3 - 4 friends would like a hands-on experience text Monika at 403 678-7901 to set something up.

If you are interested in some self-care and supportive learning, Dr. Monika’s passion is in supporting the well-being of moms and their families. She knows how impactful a mother’s health is on her own well-being and sense of joy and on her family. “If mama ain’t happy ….” (-;

Dr. Monika periodically offers Yoga & Learn weekly classes and retreats around Conscious Parenting, Simplicity Parenting, Storytelling and Mothering from Your Centre. Email courses@opentowellness.ca to get the next class times and/or join Mindful Mama Connection FB to see updates there.

She also can be consulted one-on-one in her naturopathic practice through this link:

Connect with Dr. Monika 1-on-1 in office