It's Painting Time, Mama.

Today, Gabriel asked for the painting.  More specifically...he asked, " It's Painting Time, Mama?"

Credit: Simon Howden/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

To be honest I was a little bit reluctant to get them out. Because I knew it would mean a mess that I didn't feel like cleaning up.  But then I thought about it for a minute.

Of course, it will be messy.  But that's part of childhood. Making messes and exploring textures.

So I told Gabriel, yes.  Yes, we could have painting time.

I got out the pan and squirted out the fingerpaints.  They're the washable kind so any mess is really minimal.  I got out the shape sponges and the paintbrushes.  He rarely fingerpaints with his fingers for some reason. 
I think he takes after me and is a bit averse to slimy textures on his fingers.  Even though I try to model painting with my fingers for him, he doesn't seem to take to it.

Gabriel spent the next half hour making a mess with paint and paper and water.  He painted three pictures and then he was more interested in putting paint on the brushes and wiping them off on his clothes.

I am not sure whether I should allow him to do this or keep him guided on the activity at hand.  If he's no longer interested in painting on the paper, part of me feels like the activity should end and clean up time should begin.  The other part of me feels like I should just let him cover himself in paint. Because it's washable and you're only two once.

It's an internal struggle I face often as a parent.  When is intervening and keeping kids focused on the activity  okay?  When does it become a mite too controlling?

When do we lead and when do we let go?