After last year’s drip paint pumpkins, I’ve been brainstorming more no-carve pumpkin ideas we could do as a family. Levi has been eager to paint pumpkins again, but I wanted to do something more structured than just handing him some brushes.
Would you believe that this year’s activity was inspired by a new children’s television program?
I suppose the idea isn’t too far-fetched considering the show, Creative Galaxy, which premiered on Amazon Prime Instant Video this summer, is a “make-along, create-along, interactive art adventure series.” Have you seen it? It’s the latest animated series for preschoolers from Angela Santomero, who also created two of Levi’s favorite shows, Super Why! and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
Like those programs, Creative Galaxy has an interactive story format: Characters Arty and Epiphany travel through the galaxy to solve problems through art, music, and dance, and kids at home are encouraged to participate. It also features a live-action segment at the end of each animated mini-episode (there are two per 30-minute show) of children demonstrating the craft project that Arty showcased in the galaxy.
Levi was hesitant to watch something new, but soon after we started the first episode of Creative Galaxy, he remarked that the little purple sidekick, Epiphany, was funny. And during the live-action piece showcasing a pointillism art project, Levi pointed the the screen and announced, “I want to make that!”
And that’s how I decided we’d make pointillism dot pumpkins this year.
We spent yesterday morning stamping, dotting, and decorating pumpkins using acrylic paint, brushes, and pom poms from a craft kit we found at Target. It was more fun than even I had anticipated!
I made a simple polka dot pumpkin with various sizes of pom poms, but JB painted a pointillism portrait of a lady, complete with pom pom hair accessories and washi tape eyebrows.
Show off.
Levi’s pumpkin design grew more complex — and messier — as the activity progressed. He started with brown and silver pom pom-stamped polka dots and ended with a muddy mix of colors topped with “goblin eyes” (his pronunciation of “googly eyes”) from the craft kit.
I’ve never seen Levi work on an art project for as long as he did yesterday. In fact, he made two pointillism dot pumpkins and was not happy when we told him it was time to clean the table for lunch!
I’m pretty sure Levi and I will both benefit from adding Creative Galaxy to our rotation of educational TV shows. He’ll learn about art, and I’ll get ideas for more crafts we can do together. It’s a win-win.
What are some of your favorite preschool crafts? I’m creative, but coming up with toddler art projects is not my forte!
PS – Additional Halloween DIY ideas to get you in psyched for October 31st.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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