Mud Painting

Posted by
Jenn Greenleaf
Mar 27, 2009

When I was doing research for a writing project about activities dads can do with their daughters last year, I came across an interesting idea – mud painting. At first, this sounded like a terrible idea that was just begging for trouble. Until I realized one thing . . . it’s not about the mess, it’s about the fun.

Once I pulled my head out of the idea of hosing off children before they walked through the door, I genuinely grasped the idea:

Set up a disposable or plastic table cloth (one of those blue tarps will also suffice) next to a particularly mucky area.
Cover the “work area” with paintbrushes in various sizes, as well as some large pieces of art paper.
Roll up your sleeves (and the cuffs of your pants because, let’s face it, you’re going to be tempted to dig your feet in the mud with your kids), dip the paintbrushes in the mud, and start painting.

Now, these works of interesting art won’t “stay” the same way as a typical painting will. It’s not about that, though. Rather than letting it be about the preservation of “little people art,” think about the quality time you’ll be spending with your little ones getting dirty and being silly.

This popped into my mind, of course, because I’m staring through my window as what looks like a chocolate pudding party in my yard. ::smiles::