DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET 40  chapter 3 messy. You may choose to change them—or simply let them go home “colorful.” But one thing is cer- tain: the children will enjoy their artistic endeavors! Don’t be surprised to see an increase in art center attendance if you relax your smock-wearing rules. • ice cubes frozen in ice cube trays • ice pops frozen in molds • pine needles Keep wet sponges, baby wipes, or paper towels at the ready for quickly cleaning the children’s hands or work areas. Having a soapy bucket of water on hand is also quite useful while messy projects are happening! Painting When you invite young children to paint, offer a variety of implements, paints, paint additives, and painting surfaces. A wide variety of painting ma- terials exist, and each has a different feel and pro- duces a different effect. Don’t forget that everyday items can double as painting materials, offering new and fun ways to paint! Use trial and error to find out what works well for your children and what does not. Implements What can we paint with? • paintbrushes in dif- ferent sizes, textures, and thicknesses • rollers for edges or trim (from a hardware store) • foam brushes • spools • sponges in various sizes and shapes • fingers • cotton swabs • cotton balls • foam rollers • brayers or rubber rollers • eyedroppers • toothbrushes • containers with shaker tops for powdered paint • spray bottles • squirt bottles • balloons • carpet squares • large marbles • golf balls • turkey basters • flyswatters • potato mashers • spatulas • berry baskets (from produce department) • paint scrapers, flat and designed or textured (from an art supply store) • feather dusters • toy cars and trucks • corks • toy trains and train tracks • containers and lids • plastic toy animal feet • Koosh balls • keys • tea bags • kitchen scrubbers • shoes or boots • mittens • string or yarn • hands and feet When painting with cotton balls, use clothespins to hold the cotton balls if chil- dren are sensitive to messy paint on their hands. Clothespins work well for small sponges too. Assemble a recycled items donation wish list to give to families. Items may include sturdy containers, lids, small trays, empty paper towel tubes, small boxes, large boxes, flat card- board, craft materials, fabric, towels, sheets, or tablecloths. Choose donations carefully. Taking too much will just build clutter. Storage You can store painting implements in a variety of ways, such as on shelves or in boxes, bins, or sil- verware sorters. If your classroom is cluttered and crowded, you may need a storage space that’s out of COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL