We spend a ton of time outside here and, and the materials that we play with are usually quite basic.  Here’s an example of how the imagination can turn 2 simple items into creative, artsy fun.  The girls found a couple of popsicle sticks in the chalk bucket one day, and without any input from me, discovered that when they rubbed the chalk with the stick, “dust happened”.  Well, they were off to the races, they dusted and they dusted, the plants, the patio, their feet… and then they discovered the fine art of making tracings with the chalk dust.  I love it when little people figure make big discoveries, all on their own. So, here’s a picture of the chalk tracings to get things started.  Hope you enjoy some of these fun, but simple activities as much as the Hooligans do.

chalk dusting

chalking on rocks

…or pinecones

or tree roots