Search Results

Last month, our Artist of the Month is the legendary Salvador Dalí — the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his incredible technical skill, boundless imagination, and delightfully bizarre creations. Through stories and hands-on art explorations, the children have been discovering how Dalí transformed ordinary objects into dreamlike masterpieces that challenge us to see the world in new and unexpected ways. We also explored Dalí’s unforgettable personal style and larger-than-life personality. With his signature mustache, daring fashion sense, and theatrical flair, Dalí’s self-expression extended far beyond his paintings — it was woven into every aspect of his life. His fearless individuality and unapologetic creativity made him not only one of the greatest artists of the 20th century but also one of the most unforgettable icons in art history. 1. Invitation to Create: Salvador Dalí Portraits: To celebrate Dalí’s unique style, we invited the children to create their own portraits of the artist. Using printed photographs as inspiration, they were given an outline of Dalí’s face along with glue, pipe cleaners, scissors, markers, and colored pencils — the perfect materials to capture his playful, expressive energy. Each portrait reflected the children’s interpretation of Dalí’s quirky personality and creative spirit. 2. Lobster Telephone Still Life Painting: Exploring Surrealism: Inspired by Dalí’s famous 1938 work “Lobster Telephone,” the children explored the world of Surrealism through still life painting. We set up a 3D telephone and lobster model alongside images of the original artwork, providing paint, brushes, and paper for the children to reimagine Dalí’s curious pairing. This experience encouraged them to think abstractly and explore how unrelated objects can come together to create something entirely new — just like Dalí did. 3. Invitation to Create: Meditative Rose with Loose Parts: For our final exploration, the children reinterpreted Dalí’s “Meditative Rose” using loose parts as their medium. Presented with the painting and materials that matched its color palette — flat marbles, gems, petals, and a blue tray as the base — the children arranged and designed their own transient art pieces. This open-ended process invited mindfulness, creativity, and reflection, echoing Dalí’s ability to find beauty in simplicity and symbolism. Introducing children to artists like Salvador Dalí broadens their understanding of what art can be. Exposure to diverse styles and creative thinkers encourages curiosity, open-mindedness, and confidence, showing children that art is not limited by rules — it’s about expressing what makes each of us unique. Through these playful, imaginative experiences, the children learned that art isn’t just about what appears on a canvas; it’s about  how we see the world and express who we are . Just like Dalí, they discovered that creativity shines brightest when we dare to dream differently.

Last month, our featured artist was the iconic Salvador Dalí, the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his extraordinary technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and dreamlike imagery. Through books, discussions, and creative invitations, we’ve been exploring his world, introducing children to the magic and imagination that define surrealism. Today, the children engaged with one of Dalí’s enchanting pieces — “Ship with Butterfly Sails” (1937). This surreal masterpiece beautifully merges the strength and stability of a ship with the delicate beauty of butterflies. Painted during a time of great change and unrest in Spain, it reflects themes of transformation, freedom, and fragility. The ship represents a steady journey, while the butterfly sails symbolize lightness, hope, and the power of change. Together, these elements remind us that art can blend reality with imagination, inviting us — and our young learners — to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways. To bri ng this artwork to life, we invited the children to paint a ship made out of recycled boxes. They painted the ship in rich shades of brown tempera paint, while also creating vibrant butterflies to merge with their creations — blending the real with the fantastical, just as Dalí did. Exposing children to diverse artists and styles expands their understanding of what art can be. When children see that creativity takes many forms — from realism to surrealism — they learn there is no single “right” way to make art. Art experiences like this nurture not only imagination but also vital developmental skills. Through projects inspired by great artists, children learn to: Express themselves creatively — experimenting with colors, shapes, and materialsThink critically — reflecting on their work and the choices they make See the world from new perspectives — finding inspiration in unexpected places Build language and storytelling skills — describing their ideas and creations Art is a cornerstone of early childhood education. Each experience — whether painting a butterfly or imagining a ship made of dreams — gives children the confidence to explore, experiment, and engage with the world in wonderfully creative ways. By introducing children to artists like Dalí, we not only inspire creativity but also teach them that imagination knows no bounds. Every brushstroke, every whimsical idea, and every joyful exploration helps shape young minds capable of seeing the world not just as it is, but as it could be.

This week, we read How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace — a fun, heartwarming story about a brave young ninja who decides to face the monster hiding in his closet. What begins as a tale of fear transforms into one of courage and discovery, reminding us all that things aren’t always as scary as they seem. To extend this story beyond the pages, we invited the children to design their very own monsters using play-dough and loose parts. Our tinker trays were filled with an array of creative materials — feathers, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, craft sticks, pom poms, vampire teeth, creepy fingers, and twisty ties — along with Colorations® Neon Dough f or an extra pop of color. As the children rolled, squished, and shaped their play-dough, their imaginations came alive! Each monster told its own story — some silly, some spooky, and all wonderfully unique. Through this process, the children weren’t just creating art; they were building connections to the story, expressing emotions, and exploring new ideas through hands-on play. Play-dough is a staple of early childhood education for good reason. It engages all the senses, strengthens fine motor skills, and supports early language, literacy, math, and science development. When paired with loose parts, it becomes an even more powerful tool — offering endless opportunities for open-ended exploration and creativity. By integrating sensory materials with storytelling, children deepen their comprehension and make personal connections to what they read. Each squish, twist, and imaginative creation becomes a bridge between story and self — turning a simple literacy extension into a rich, multi-sensory learning experience.

Every year, my son’s elementary school puts on the most epic fundraiser — Creepy Hollow. This beloved event transforms the campus into a Halloween wonderland filled with games, a haunted house, a cake walk, bake sale, face painting, inflatables, raffles, and so much more! It’s an incredible community effort that not only raises funds for our public school programs but also creates lasting memories for students and families. This year, I was thrilled to join the planning team alongside an amazing group of parents who pour their hearts into making our fundraising efforts both impactful and unforgettable. My role? Designing the arts and crafts area! I wanted to create a space where children could slow down, get creative, and let their imaginations run wild. Here’s a peek at our Creepy Hollow Creative Stations + Pictures from other areas of the event: 1. Color My Bones: This spooky station featured skeleton body cutouts, Colorations® BioColor® fluorescent and metallic paints , silicone paint cups , and brushes . Children were invited to bring their skeletons to life with bold, glowing colors! 2. Boo-tiful Portraits: At this station, kids designed their own ghoulish portraits using paper frames, ghost cutouts, googly eyes , stickers (flowers, borders, ghosts), washi tape, scrapbook paper, scissors, glue sticks , and tape. Each portrait was as unique (and spooky!) as its maker. Here are the step by step instructions provided: How to Make a Boo-tiful Ghost Portrait Pick Your Perfect Frame  – Choose a frame.  Add a Background  – Slip in a fun sheet of paper as your backdrop.  Place Your Ghosts  – Add your ghost cutouts or ghost stickers right onto the background. Arrange them floating, flying, or even holding hands! Decorate the Details  – Use washi tape,  stickers, or little embellishments to make your portrait truly one-of-a-kind. Show It Off!  – Ta-da! You’ve created a  ghoulishly boo-tiful  masterpiece ready to haunt your walls (in the cutest way possible). 3. Wickedly Wild Coloring: A fan favorite at every event! We featured Friends Art Lab’s Halloween Giant Coloring Poster  — a collaborative masterpiece that let kids (and parents!) color together using a rainbow of markers. 4. Spooktacular Ink: It’s not a Halloween party without tattoos! We set up a station stocked with fun temporary tattoos, spray bottles, and paper towels — easy to apply and always a hit with the kids. Here are the games: Prizes: Creepy Kitchen: Auction: Face Painting: Bounce Houses:

It’s that spooktacular time of year again when we bring out one of our favorite annual traditions a Haunted Mansion made out of cardboard! Set up near our Outdoor Interactive Painting Gallery & Art Studio, this collaborative creation invites our little architects to dive into a world of imagination, creativity, and exploration. One of the most magical things about cardboard and process art is that  anything  can become a canvas. Cardboard’s versatility — with its many sizes, textures, and shapes — makes it a wonderful material for children to experiment with. It encourages open-ended creativity as they paint, design, and build together, transforming simple recycled boxes into something extraordinary. This year, inspired by the children’s excitement for Halloween, we decided to honor their interests by assembling our very own Haunted Mansion. Using recycled boxes, the children painted with vibrant @colorations.artoflearning Tempera Paint and @discountschoolsupply brushes, turning plain cardboard into spooky towers, monster doors, and ghostly windows. Their enthusiasm and engagement were contagious — every brushstroke sparked laughter, storytelling, and collaboration. Through painting and building together, children strengthen so many foundational skills, including:  Fine and gross motor development Hand-eye coordination and control Language and communication as they describe their ideas  Creative thinking and problem-solving  Social-emotional growth through teamwork and shared discovery Most importantly, process art gives children the freedom to experiment, take risks, and express themselves authentically. By transforming everyday materials into something magical, they learn that creativity has no limits — and that imagination truly is their most powerful tool. As we like to say "every child is an artist" — all they need is the space, the materials, and the invitation to create. Here are the other cardboard haunted houses/manisons we have created over the years: one , two , three .

We invited the children to dive into some spooky, squishy fun with a classic sensory favorite — oobleck! Using scoops, baskets , @openplaytoys cones , and measuring cups, the children explored the fascinating world of this gooey mixture by scooping, squeezing, and squishing it through their fingers. What made this experience truly magical was watching their eyes light up as they noticed how oobleck behaves — sometimes like a solid, sometimes like a liquid. When they squeezed it tightly, it felt firm in their hands, but when they relaxed their grip, it slipped and flowed like water. That’s because oobleck isn’t your ordinary substance — it’s a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it doesn’t follow the usual rules of solids and liquids. This hands-on activity not only sparked laughter and curiosity but also offered a playful introduction to scientific concepts like states of matter and suspension. Children who engage in a variety of sensory-rich experiences learn to use and strengthen their senses in new and meaningful ways. The benefits of sensory play in early childhood are profound — it helps build neural connections in the brain, fostering curiosity and a natural drive to take on more complex learning tasks. Beyond the fun, sensory exploration supports: Cognitive growth and problem-solving skills Language development through descriptive play Fine motor coordination and physical development Social interaction and cooperative play Memory and concentration Sensory play and open-ended, hands-on experiences truly are a gift to a child’s developing mind — and some of the most powerful ways to learn in the early years. As the beloved play advocate Bev Boss once said, “If it hasn’t been in the hand and the body… it can’t be in the brain.”

There’s no denying the excitement that comes with Halloween! This season offers the perfect opportunity to build upon children’s natural curiosity—especially when they show a strong interest in something spooktacular like skeletons and bones. When we design invitations that follow their interests, we honor their learning process by allowing them to become active collaborators in their own discoveries. To spark curiosity and deepen understanding, we’ve been reading Give Me Back My Bones! , Skeletons ARE NOT Spooky! , and Spooky, Scary Skeletons —engaging books that bring the world of skeletons to life in fun, age-appropriate ways. For this hands-on exploration, children were invited to investigate skeletons using X-ray images, loose parts, and skeleton figures on our E xcellerations Light Table from Discount School Supply. Integrating tactile materials that children can touch, move, and examine encourages them to categorize, compare, and think critically about what they observe. The light table adds a magical layer of sensory engagement—its soft glow draws children in, focuses their attention, and provides a calming environment for discovery. As they sort, stack, and study the materials, their language skills, scientific thinking, and understanding of anatomy begin to flourish naturally. After all, light has a way of capturing our attention and illuminating new perspectives.

Pumpkin season is here — and with it comes endless opportunities for creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning! These four invitations blend process art, STEAM discovery, imaginative water play, and fine motor development, making pumpkins the perfect seasonal learning tool. 1. Drip Paint Pumpkin Art: Pumpkin art meets process exploration in this vibrant invitation! To set up, gather real pumpkins and place them flat or slightly elevated inside a sensory bin. Dilute your paint with a bit of water until it reaches the perfect dripping consistency — we used  Colorations® Fluorescent BioColor® Paints . Provide silicone mixing cups so children can pour, layer, and experiment as they watch the colors move and blend. Each drip becomes a unique masterpiece and a perfect opportunity to observe gravity, color mixing, and cause-and-effect in action. 2. Pumpkin STEM Building Challenge: This open-ended STEM invitation encouraged children to engineer their own creations using pumpkins as the core building blocks! With  @openplaytoys cones , neon plastic cups , recycled CDs, spools , and hair rollers , children explored how balance, weight, and shape influence structure.They stacked, adjusted, and problem-solved, discovering how small design choices could make big differences. It’s a playful way to introduce the engineering and design process, while fostering teamwork, persistence, and creative thinking. 3. Fluorescent Pumpkin “Food” Water Play: In the outdoor Mud Kitchen & Water Play Area, our young chefs were busy stirring up magic! With ladles, whisks, bowls, and buckets — and plenty of pumpkins and gourds — children mixed up imaginative “soups” and “pies” in fluorescent-colored water tinted with  BioColor® Paints .This sensory-rich invitation supported imaginative play, language development, and coordination, turning simple materials into a bubbling world of creativity and sensory discovery. 4. Stretch, Snap, and Strengthen-Fine Motor Pumpkin Play: For this fine motor invitation, children explored baskets full of  rubber bands  and a collection of pumpkins and gourds in all shapes and textures — bumpy, smooth, tall, and round. As they stretched and wrapped, they exercised the small muscles in their hands and fingers, strengthening coordination and control. Some pumpkins required more strength, others precision, and a few had such tricky shapes that the bands popped right off — sparking persistence and problem-solving along the way. Whether it’s dripping paint, building towers, mixing fluorescent “recipes,” or stretching rubber bands, pumpkins offer so many joyful ways to learn through play. Each invitation brings art, science, and sensory exploration together — all wrapped up in the magic of the season. Here are other ways to explore pumpkins this season: 3 Pumpkin Invitations , Pumpkin Gravity Water Play, Pumpkin Oobleck, Three Pumpkin Explorations , 5 Little Pumpkins STEM & Small World Play, Pumpkin Pie Spice Market, Pumpkin Slide Painting , Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch, Pumpkin Pie Playdough , Fall Soup.

Storytime is such a powerful way to spark imagination and build meaningful literacy skills. Today, our classroom took flight with  Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler  — a beloved story filled with friendship, teamwork, and just a touch of magic. In the story, a kind witch and her cat soar happily through the sky on their broomstick — until one by one, her hat, bow, and wand go tumbling down to the ground! Luckily, three helpful animals come to the rescue, returning each lost item and asking only for a ride on the broom. But as the broom fills up, the big question remains: Is there room on the broom for everyone? And when a hungry dragon appears, will friendship and teamwork be enough to save the day? After reading, we extended the story through a fun and messy Action Process Art experience that let the children become witches on their own broomsticks ! Using real brooms as paintbrushes,  @colorations.artoflearning Tempera Paint , and a large sheet of butcher paper from @discountschoolsupply , we transformed our space into a magical witchy art studio. The children giggled and “flew” around as they painted, experimenting with how to move their brooms to make different strokes, mix colors, and create swirling trails of paint. There was plenty of problem-solving and gross motor exploration as they figured out how to maneuver their oversized “brushes.” Their imaginations soared as they pretended to fly through the sky, just like the witch in the story. This activity beautifully combined literacy, creativity, and physical development — showing that when stories come to life through play and art, the magic of learning truly takes flight!

Spooky season is here, and today we invited the children to dive into some spirited fun with our Floating Ghosts & Witch Hats Action Art experience! This festive invitation combined creativity, movement, and exploration for a truly BOO-tiful process art adventure. To set up the invitation, we prepared @discountschoolsupply paint cups filled with vibrant @colorations.artoflearning Fluorescent Paints. Our floating ghosts were crafted from  balloons wrapped in white paper tablecloths  and tied with fishing wire to hang from tree branches. With paintbrushes in hand and glowing colors ready, the children were invited to bring their ghostly friends and witch hats to life through paint! Action art is a full-body, process-driven approach where the emphasis is on exploration and experimentation rather than the final product. While the end results are always beautiful, the true learning happens through the act of creating. As the children painted, they engaged in rich conversations, practiced collaboration and cooperation, and navigated the space together — all while joyfully expressing their creativity. The physical nature of this activity supported multiple areas of development. From gripping and re-gripping the ghosts to keep them steady, balancing and reaching to paint every side, or holding a paint cup in one hand while painting with the other — children were fully immersed in the creative process. This experience strengthened fine and gross motor skills, hand–eye coordination, and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body simultaneously). It also encouraged focus, persistence, and problem-solving as they adapted to painting moving 3D objects! Every time we offer children opportunities to create in innovative, open-ended ways, we see firsthand the power and importance of process art in early childhood. These moments of discovery remind us that art is more than a product — it’s a joyful, dynamic way for children to think, move, explore, and connect.

International Dot Day is a worldwide celebration of creativity, courage, & collaboration inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ beloved book  The Dot . Each year on September 15th (& the days around it), children & educators come together to “make their mark” through art, writing, music, & acts of kindness. It’s a joyful reminder that self-expression builds confidence & connects us with others. Set out black and white construction paper, scissors, rulers, glue , & dot markers ( shiny & mini ) . Invite children to begin by filling a sheet of white paper with dots of all shapes & sizes. Then, turn the paper over & draw guiding lines to cut strips (older children can cut on their own, or you can assist with a cutting board). Next, have them snip the strips into squares & rectangles. Finally, encourage children to arrange & glue their pieces onto the black construction paper—creating a vibrant dot collage inspired by  The Dot . Benefits of this Invitation:  This process-based activity goes beyond simply making art. As children explore dots, patterns, & shapes, they: Strengthen  fine motor skills  through cutting, gluing, & handling small pieces. Develop  spatial awareness  while arranging squares & rectangles into a new composition. Practice  creativity & problem-solving  as they decide how to layer & design their collage. Build  confidence  in their ability to make a mark & transform simple materials into something unique. This invitation not only celebrates Dot Day but also nurtures important developmental skills while giving children the freedom to express and celebrate the beauty of their own mark-making just like Vashti.

Our favorite  Steam Train, Dream Train  is pulling back into bookstores this fall—just in time to deliver double the joy for the holidays!  Since its debut more than a decade ago, this bedtime classic has captured the hearts of children and parents everywhere. Beloved for its soothing rhythm and whimsical illustrations, it remains a timeless night time favorite. This season, families can hop aboard a brand-new special edition, complete with shiny foil finishes and a keepsake foldout poster—perfect for gifting or treasuring with little ones. But that’s not all—the adventure continues! On October 7, 2025, the crew sets off on a brand-new holiday journey in  Steam Train, Dream Train: Next Stop Christmas . Get ready for festive fun as the familiar animal friends go full steam ahead into the holiday season, celebrating Christmas and helping little readers drift off into cozy, wintry dreams. At Tinkerwonderplay, we love bringing stories to life through hands-on play. Here’s a fun STEM-inspired building activity you can set up to pair with the book: Invitation to Play – Dream Train Holiday Build Train   Picasso Tiles  (Picasso Tiles , Race Track Add Ons , Car Construction , Expansion Car Truck Building Blocks)  Animal figurines Color-changing LED lights Encourage kids to design their own glowing Dream Train world—complete with tracks, animals, and a holiday glow! It’s the perfect way to connect literacy, creativity, and STEM learning.