Hello! my name is Elise Mahan and I am an artist and educator. I am a parent to a lovely 2 1/2 year old named Miles, who loves to do projects, make art, and explore every aspect of his world.
I have been an early childhood educator for nearly 10 years, and now that I am a parent, I strive to teach Miles all I know about making art, messy play, and nature based learning. So here you can find my projects, thoughts and ideas on raising a child to appreciate nature and art in a world that is increasingly devoted to consumerism and technology.
I will be posting projects that we do regularly. They are mostly inspired by art, books and nature. Hope to see you again and thank you for stopping by!
Project One: Nature Discovery Tray
note: supervision required for this activity (small parts such as marbles used as decoration, i would remove if you aren’t sure if your toddler will mouth them, Miles is trustworthy so I offer marbles as long as I’m present)
materials:
small to medium sized tray (I repurposed an old wooden painting for this project because it would hold up outside, and is low enough for total exploration options.)
Rocks, Marbles, Shells, Pinecones
Flowers and Leaves, I chose edible flowers for this project
Shovel, Spoons
I like this project because I can pair it with a garden book, as well, I chose Morning in the Garden, written by Heather Gondek
Project Engages Kids in:
Early Literacy
sensory experiences
counting opportunities
loose parts play
nature appreciation
language skills
