Summer Centerpiece

What You Need:

• Non-toxic blue paint
• Non-toxic white paint
• Gummy fish candy
• Glue
• Paint brushes
• Foam square
• Scissors
• Green construction paper
• Sand
• Small plastic bowl
• Mini shells
• Vinyl place mat

What You Do:

1. Set up your work station. Place your foam square on the vinyl place mat. Make sure your child is wearing something he won't mind getting paint on.
2. Let your child paint the entire square with blue paint.
3. Put a few drops of blue paint and white into the small bowl. With a paint brush, slowly start to mix the paints together. Do not stir too long! You want swirls of white to still be visible in the paint.
4. Have your child dip the tip of the paintbrush into the bowl and grab a small dab of the mixed paint. Help him place blobs of the paint on the foam square so it looks waves. Let the paint sit and dry overnight.
5. The next day, let your child pour a thin layer of glue onto the top of the foam square.
6. Have him carefully pour sand over the glue. He can use his hands to pat the sand down until it resembles a beach.
7. Let your child use glue to attach a few seashells to the top of the sandy beach.
8. Next, help him cut out seagrass and coral shapes from a piece of green construction paper. He can use more glue to attach his underwater decorations to the sides of the centerpiece.
9. The last thing to add is the fish! Let your child glue the gummy fish candies to the ocean scene.

Let this creative summer centerpiece inspire you and your child to learn more about the beach and the ocean! How many underwater creatures can your child name? Consider celebrating his artistic success with a day at the beach!