Smooshy Valentine's Painting (with modifications)

This one's got the activity and modification all right here: Here's an easy activity for you to do with your kiddo if you have some paint and paper lying around. Go ahead and cut out the paper in the shape of a heart. You can also just draw the heart and have your kiddo cut it out. Remember, you can always fold the paper in half and draw only half of a heart. Then, when that half gets cut out you can unfold it and, Voila!, you'll have your heart. What you'll have your little one do, at this point, is put some paint on the inside of that heart - not too much, but not too little. It could be just one color, or several colors. Then, fold that heart in half and smoosh the paint all around by rubbing your hands over the heart, pressing it down. When you unfold the heart, you'll have a masterpiece. This might be something that your child will want to try several times, experimenting with the amount of paint that she uses or the colors. There is so much to learn in such a simple activity. Some kiddos may be nervous about getting paint on their hands. When children are feeling like this, it often doesn't matter how much you try to explain to them that they won't get their hands messy in this activity; They worry anyway. Some gloves might work for them, to help them feel that they are protected, even for something that probably won't happen anyway. Also, it might be a good idea for you to explain to (or show) you kiddo what you are going to be doing in this activity, before asking them to do it. I have definitely known children who haven't wanted to smoosh their paper together because they love the painting that they have done on the heart. Who can blame them? I wouldn't want my hard work to be smooshed. If you can help them to understand what steps must be taken to get to that final creation, that could help avoid this. If it doesn't, that's fine, too. Art is art and happy is happy, I say! Have fun!