Kids love painting, but as a teacher it can be easier to reach for crayons before paints! Paints can leave desks messy and turn papers into mushy puddles. Many kiddos don't really know how to paint, and you don't always have time to conduct a full art lesson. With a few teacher hacks you can turn painting in the classroom into fun for your kiddos and for yourself!
Before I ever let my little ones touch a brush, I model the correct way to paint. I show them how I dip my brush in water and then swirl a color. Kiddos tend to dig and scratch with brushes like they are using crayons so I model how to gently brush over the paper. I explain what happens if I forget to rinse my brush before I switch colors. No one wants a whole tray of messy brown colors! Taking a few minutes to model exactly what to do saves you lots of time and frustration in the long run!
It's time to let the kiddos start practicing. Before we really start painting, I like to watch everyone practice with a dry bowl, dry paints, and a dry brush. I can remind them to rinse their brush before they touch a new color. I can show them how to gently swirl the colors again if they need reminded. When they look ready, I give them their official painter aprons to wear! This little step makes a big difference and makes your little artists much more confident!
Before my lesson, I find it helpful to set up individual paint trays for each child. A local hospital donated these plastic medical trays to my classroom over 10 years ago, and they still work perfectly! On each tray, place a brush, paint set, and a paper towel. I can prep the trays a couple of days before I need them or ask a volunteer to set them up for me. When it's time to paint, it's easy to pass out all the trays. They also prevent spills and keep liquids from leaking through onto the desks.
I learned this tip from my kindergartener at home and I have been doing it ever since. If my kiddos are having trouble getting started, I use an eye dropper or medicine dropper to moisten the paints. I just squeeze a few droplets of water on each color, and then the kiddos can swirl it around. You can also let the kids use eye droppers to get their paints wet too!
When we paint, I like to play music. It can be relaxing or upbeat, but it helps keep everyone quiet and focused. Painting is fun, but it takes some concentration too! I encourage my students to choose their own colors, patterns, and designs. Everyone's art should look a little bit different. It's fun to watch kiddos experiment with different colors and try something new.
Cleaning up can be quick and painless- I promise! One of my favorite things about those trays is stacking them when we are done. You don't even have to take your paper off of the tray! I just stack them in a crisscross pattern so they don't all stick to each other when they are stacked up. I asked my kiddos to drop their brushes in the sink or a plastic container. I usually pick a couple of kids to rinse them all and set them on a towel to dry. Then you just have to wait. When the papers are dry, pick them up, send them home, and wipe off the trays!
