I first learned about “process art” when I was in college,
that is art that allows children to explore colors, textures, tools, mixed media
with no intended outcome (more info can be found here: http://www.brightring.com/FAQ.html). Even as a
child I was a big fan of collage art as I never quite developed drawing skills. That is not to say I never liked crafts—I did and I still do, but I now value that
self-expression and discovery can come from enabling children to take part of a
process and let go of the idea of an end product. We took the idea even further when I worked
at a preschool that embodied “process not product,” not only the art was
open-ended—any project be it science, drama, cooking, or sensory was more about
the process than a desired outcome. I
had to remind my self of these ideals over the weekend. I had seen some great ideas for using natural
dyes for Easter eggs on Pinterest…sounds right up my alley. I didn’t want to have to purchase too many
extra ingredients or items that I wouldn’t use.
I thought to myself that since Roo is still so young, she may not even
enjoy it this year and because of that I decided to choose one color and
assumed that since when you cook beets just about everything turns red/pink, that
is what we would use. We love beet and
goat cheese salads, so I knew nothing would go to waste. I did have to buy white eggs, since the eggs
we normally buy are brown. I boiled the
beets in the morning and reserved the cooking liquid.
Little Roo was interested in placing the eggs
into the water and occasionally taking a peek at them.
Sadly, the nice rosy hue I had dreamed up
never happened.
Instead, we got the
lovely shade of brown that the eggs I normally buy are!
The good news is that, we had fun experimenting
with natural dyes and enjoyed a great salad for lunch. I am sure many more times in my parenting
adventures projects will not go the way I had planned, but as long as we can
learn something in the process, I will not consider them failures!
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