| You have all seen the cute little model cars out | | | | children that will be working on each one. For |
| there for small kids, right? You know, the wooden | | | | example, if you have four or more children you |
| ones that have just a few moving parts and that | | | | should consider buying two or more kits so that |
| usually come unpainted and ready to be | | | | each child will feel like they have a significant hand |
| assembled. Well, if you are looking for a rainy day | | | | in the painting and assembly process. Have each |
| activity that you can enjoy with your youngsters, | | | | child work on similar parts so that no one feels |
| then this may just be the one for you. | | | | like the other is getting to do more than they are. |
| If you decide that this is just right for you and | | | | It is also easiest to work with one color at a time. |
| your children, then you will want to run a few | | | | That way you do not have a huge mess to clean |
| errands and make sure that you have the right | | | | up as well. |
| materials before you get started. You will need a | | | | Have the children paint the wheels first then the |
| drop cloth, garbage bag, or an old sheet to cover | | | | parts of the car body itself. Then make sure that |
| the table at which you will be working. You will | | | | you set them aside so that they have time to |
| also need some fat-handled paint brushes that will | | | | dry. Have some craft paper set aside so that the |
| be easy for little hands to hold and use. The next | | | | children can do some extra painting while they are |
| thing you will want to get will be some non toxic | | | | waiting for the model car parts to dry. That way |
| water based acrylic paints. Water based acrylics | | | | they will not get easily bored. |
| wash out with very little work and so will come | | | | Once the parts are dry, you are ready to begin |
| out of any clothes that they may just happen to | | | | assembly. Involve the children by asking them to |
| get on. | | | | hand you particular parts such as "please hand me |
| Another way to prevent stains is to cruise | | | | the wheels, the body, etc." |
| through the kitchen center of your favorite local | | | | Assembly the car according to the manufacturer's |
| store and pick up some cheap aprons for the kids | | | | directions making sure to follow them precisely. |
| to wear. If you are feeling particularly crafty then | | | | This will ensure that your children's cars turn out |
| you can paint each of their names at the top of | | | | the way they should. Also, if you get each child a |
| the apron bib. If they are too long, then you can | | | | car then you will be much less likely to have to |
| cut them shorter so that the children will not trip | | | | mediate between them when arguments arise as |
| over their feet while they are trying to paint. | | | | to which car belongs to which child. Activities such |
| Once you get everything together, you will be | | | | as this can be a lot of fun on rainy days in which |
| ready to start working on the project. | | | | you can involve your children. |
| Divide the parts of the car by the number of | | | | |