makin' paint.

The only television I don't mind my children watching is Playschool. For the simple reason is it the only show that doesn't immediately cause some sort of trance like immobility in the child viewing. Truly if you ever turn the TV on when a child is on their way to the couch you will see them just freeze mid-stride and remain motionless, mouths slightly agape and eyes blank. It is nothing short of totally disturbing. In contrast, when Xavie watches Playschool she leaps to her feet and dances along, talks aloud in response to the presenters questions, and often runs to me immediately when it's finished full of inspiration to bake or make something that she has just seen them do. We have made raisin pinwheels, rice maracas, and fruit smoothies, all from Xavie's instructions, remembered perfectly from and episode of Playschool. This green paint was a good example. Xavie explained the recipe, as I had not been watching, although often I do, (Apparently its quite normal for parents to develop a sort of daytime crush on their favourite presenters, go Justine and Jake!) Anyway more or less it goes like this:

corn starch (a couple of table spoons)

food colouring (a much better use for this than actually putting it in food!)

castille soap or chamomile dishwashing liquid -- quite a lot of this

lavender oil- a couple of drops for lovely smell

mix and add to a squeezy bottle. 

This paint is really a sensory experience rather than one that will produce great artworks. It is a great finger or body paint on a warm day outside and I think if you had a dog it could be fun to get them in on the action, as everyone ends up pretty clean after a good rinsing!

foot note: I think the reason Playschool is cool is because it is totally naturalistic, devoid of branding or complicated themes, and heck it was my favourite when I was little so its fills me with nostalgia...