“I’ll be back in a minute, I just need to put Bee down for her day nap” I called out to Granny one random Spring afternoon. Granny and Pop were visiting, it’s become a bit of a weekly ritual these last few months.
“No worries, I’ll play with JJ. Do you have any glue?” asked Granny. I vaguely waved her in the direction of the craft cupboards, and headed upstairs.
When I came back down fifteen minutes later, I discovered this collage hanging up to dry…
Granny had drawn the tree outline, poured some UHT glue onto a paper plate, and gathered up some leaves and bark from the garden. Then she’d let JJ paste on the leaves and bark to create the collage. (Knowing Granny, and judging by the results, I’m sure she would have joined in with the pasting as well.)
It’s a bit more structured than many of the more child-led art sessions that JJ and I often do together. I think a balance between child-led and parent-led (or in this case, grandparent-led) allows for different experiences and new techniques to be taught without stifling creativity.
Free and meaningful nature-based art FTW!
xx Danya
