Easel Time-Bumpy Coloring

Daddy was running late tonight and the boys wanted to wait up for him. So while we were waiting I put them at the Easel for some bumpy coloring. This is a technique I learned to help your child to color in the lines.
I pre-colored the background of this coloring page. I outlined the 3 Aliens in glue and also the planet in glue. You tell your child when they “hit the bump” to stop and go back. I was AMAZED how well the technique worked as this is the first time I have tried it with my boys.

Easel Time

In some of my fine motor training, I have learned that it is very important for preschoolers to be working at an easel on a daily basis.  The kids got this amazing Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Easel for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Donaldson.
“When preschoolers hold a marker, paint brush or other instrument against a vertical surface, extra muscles in the wrist and hand are strengthened - muscles that don't get exercise when preschoolers write on a table or other horizontal surface. The tiny hand and wrist muscles work against gravity in a different way on vertical surfaces then they do when preschoolers write or draw on horizontal surfaces.” Taken from Preschool Rock.com

Today Easel time was simply putting our hot chocolate cups on the easel to color before our number time.