How to Make Black and White Pictures: Afternoon Fun with Kids

Okay, so, you are home with the kids all day and are needing something to do for minimal cost. Not a problem! This project, creating black and white pictures, is simple and fun and includes lunch as well. How, you ask? So easy! It all begins with lunch plans.

Boil some eggs and make an egg salad by mixing some mayonnaise and pickle relish with your crumbled eggs (kids love the sweetness of the relish and it adds a nice color to the salad). Maybe you could make sandwiches in interesting shapes to tame their wild spirits for a bit. Large cookie cutters are good for this, are very inexpensive, kids love the shapes and will entertain themselves while they eat (giving you a moment to collect yourself) and the birds love the crusts. The key to this project is to save the egg shells once you peel the eggs. Put them in a large bowl and let them cool while everyone enjoys an imagination filled lunch. Be very cautious as the egg shells stay warm for about one half hour and remember-children should never use the stove unless very closely supervised by an adult. Now, with lunch completed it is time to begin!

This project requires very few materials: egg shells, black construction paper, a white or light colored piece of chalk, and child safe glue. Of course, if your child prefers a different color of paper or chalk, let them have at it! This project engages the imagination, fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, and promotes sharing, processing, and bonding. Be sure to cover your work area with paper or plastic to make clean-up a whole lot easier!

Here is how to do it! Crumble your egg shells into tiny pieces in your bowl using your fingers or the bottom of a juice glass or a similar object but pay close attention to tiny fingers. Egg shells are very sharp and pointy until broken down into smaller pieces. Now spread your egg shell bits on a piece of paper toweling to absorb any moisture that remains and set them aside. The next step is to take your piece of black construction paper and white chalk (or other colors for those who prefer it) and draw a picture on your paper. This can be a very engaging step for inquisitive and imaginative children. Adults, take this opportunity to engage the children in conversations about what they are imagining and want to accomplish with their picture. Ask them what they want to draw and why. Question them about how the materials feel in their hands, are they heavy, do they smell good or bad, are they cold or warm or smooth or sticky? Give them an opportunity to communicate with you. Maybe their picture will relate to the lunch time imagination play or a pet or a trip or a secret or a wish. Once you have completed your picture then outline the shapes with your child safe glue. Each child will find their own style for applying glue; some will outline their shapes with the tip, some will dab and dot the glue onto the paper, some prefer to spread it with an inexpensive small paintbrush or tooth pick or cotton swab or their own fingers. Once your glue has been applied take your bowl of crushed egg shells and sprinkle them onto your glue outlines; experiment with the amounts of eggshell that you use by adding more in some places and less in others for a variety of textures. Set your picture aside now and let it dry for a few minutes...just a few...then gently tip your picture over your egg shell bowl to let the excess bits fall off and clean up your work space. Let your picture dry thoroughly in accordance with the bottle instructions. Done!!

As always, embellishments of all sorts can further enhance the artwork. A little glitter goes a long way, or maybe a bow or colored glue would be fun! Maybe the next time you do this project you may want to add a tiny bit of food coloring to your egg shells and make your picture with the colored bits (remembering that this will increase the preparation and drying time for the shells). Once your piece has completely dried why not put it in a picture frame and display it or or give it to a loved one as a gift? Maybe even create a small gallery in a corner of your home to display the children's works thus creating a feeling of importance for them. Overall, the point is to have fun!