Adaptive Art project!- Autumn Trees
SUPPLIES
Tree print out (click here to download)
Paint: Red, Green, Yellow, Brown
Broccoli
Sponge
Q-tips
Fingers
Anything that will make a pattern!
Option 1:
Play with your food! A great way to get reluctant artists or the curious kid engaged with this project is the broccoli approach. Food is a fun tool, just make sure your artist understands it’s not for eating this time! While some form of grasp is required, think about cutting a bigger and longer stem piece for anyone who needs a little extra support to hold on to objects, or cutting tiny pieces to encourage pincer grasp for extra fine motor work.
Option 2:
Use your fingers! Fingers are a fun option for everyone, challenge your artist to isolate different fingers for different colors of paint. Using your pinky makes a very different sized leaf than your thumb, and it can be really challenging to just use one finger at a time. Think about using your non-dominant hand for a particular color or part of the tree. You can help your artist get leaves on the paper by using “hand over hand” support if they need help pressing down into the paint or on to the paper. For a more complex task, change the look of the leaves by layering leaf colors over each other to make a brand new color. Sensory seekers will love the freedom to dip into the paint, push on the paper and explore the slippery delight of color mixing. Anyone who feels a little unsure about getting messy can be invited to use rubber gloves or a try a finger covered in saran wrap. For all artists it’s a good idea to make sure there’s a wet wipe or hand washing station nearby.
Option 3:
Sponges are a great tool for anyone with limited endurance, attention or vision. Complete the art project with just a few quick steps, pushing in to multiple paint colors at the same time, finding the paper, and lifting up to see what kind of tree you’ve created! Slant the surfaces toward your artist to encourage maximum contact with the colors and paper with minimal effort.
Option 4:
For mouthstick users (or anyone who wants to try a new skill of mouth painting!), the q tips help create the leaf-like texture with every push on the paper. This low tech adaptation is a great experiment in texture, shading and layering as well as visual perceptual skills.