Canvas Painting by Lisa Hanson and Heather Kempskie, authors of The Siblings' Busy Book This activity uses a huge canvas to encourage free artistic expression full of possibilities! What You'll Need All Ages Baby Toddler Preschooler School-Age Child Old flat sheet                         Clothesline & clothespins (or 2 chairs & a rope)                         Washable tempera paint                         Sponge                         Paintbrush                         Spray Bottle                         The outdoors may be the best place for this activity, but you can do it indoors if you have enough room. If you're outdoors, hang an old sheet on a chothesline, making sure your children can easily reach it. If you're indoors or if you don't have a clothesline, set up two chairs and tie a rope between them. Lay the sheet over the rope. Either way, your children will have a blast decorating the "canvas." Baby Before the painting begins, sit next to the hanging sheet with your baby. Your older children may even engage in a game of peekaboo with her! Have your baby touch the sheet with her hands and feet. To encourage artistic expression, put a little paint on her finger and let her smear the sheet. Even though tempera paint is nontoxic, supervise her closely so she doesn't put her finger in her mouth. Toddler Your toddler will enjoy decorating the canvas using a sponge dipped in paint. He can blot or smear paint on the sheet. Preschooler This activity will challenge your preschooler's motor skills. Encourage him to paint the top part of the canvas with a paintbrush; he'll need to reach above his chest and use the muscles required to write--a great exercise for the future! School-Age Child Fill a spray bottle half with paint and half with water. Your school-age child can squirt the sheet to create unique designs. Parent Tip Use the finished painting to decorate a playroom or other space in your home. © Lisa Hanson & Heather Kempskie This activity is excerpted with permission from The Siblings' Busy Book by Lisa Hanson & Heather Kempskie, published by Meadowbrook Press. Read StorkNet's review of The Siblings' Busy Book Do you have an idea for another Project of the Month for our Crafts for Kids Cubby? We'd love to hear from you. Email our moderators with your suggestions!