should children mix paint colors | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Yes, Mixing Colors Is Okay

Since day one, we are taught to not mix our paints, our markers, etc. for fear that the resulting color of the colors that were, in fact, mixed, will be ugly. I let my kids mix their colors.

218
Yes, Mixing Colors Is Okay

I recently got a job as a teacher's aide for grades first through third. Now, I am only eight days into my new job, have no field experience in teaching before this job, and didn't imagine that being an aide to seventeen children could be so difficult.

My class LOVES to do arts and crafts. Of all the things that our classroom has to offer, the first question I am asked every morning is, "Miss Shaylie, are we going to paint today?" My kids ~love~ to paint. We have painting parties every single day. With watercolors, acrylics, stencils, canvases, and more, these kids stay busy for nearly eight hours just by painting.

The other day, I was finishing my lesson plans and watching my kids paint, when I began to eavesdrop on their conversations. Among the many interesting things that I heard, the best thing was this, "*insert name here*, you can't mix colors! If you do, you'll ruin them!" this little seven-year-old literally shrieked. The children proceeded to argue about why you shouldn't/can't mix colors when drawing with markers or paint.

After about five minutes, a quiet child stepped in and said very boldly, "Guys! You see, you can mix colors!" She proceeded to mix purple and blue and then demonstrate the ombre effect on her canvas which she was using. The other children sat back in awe. And I mean, jaws dropped, eyes wide, the whole works.

It was like these kids have either never been given the freedom to mix colors or that they had never even thought of mixing colors. The room grew silent. The children then crowded around the canvas in awe of the beautiful teal color that was created as a result of the purple and blue being mixed.

I am not sure why this moment seemed so memorable to me, or even important enough to me to include in an article. I think the reason why I was in awe, was because we are taught since the first day of school to not mix our colors.

To me, mixing our colors is a way of telling us to try new things, no matter what the end result may be. If we are told to not mix our colors, then, aren't we telling our children that they can't do something, try something new, or experiment? And isn't life supposed to be about finding who you are, experimenting, and trying new things?

In Kindergarten we are told to keep our paints clean and crisp, therefore, we are told to remain crisp, clean, and pure. Uniform. But, by the time we graduate high school, we are told that the world is in our hands and to take advantage of it while we can.Experiment. Find out what you like. Try new things. Why is this so discouraged to our tiny humans?

Mixing colors in my classroom is okay and it always will be. Without trying new things and mixing our colors, my student wouldn't have created the beautiful teal color she did. And without the teal color, our Father's Day cards wouldn't look nearly as beautiful.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

The Unwritten Rules Of "Talking"

What is "talking?" How does one "talk?"

4896
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Vivien Leigh
Revelist

I've lived a whole 21 years with an RBF (Resting Bitch Face), so naturally, I go through most of these struggles on a daily basis.

And before you ask, yes I'm fine. No, I'm not mad. This is just my face, so take it or leave it! To those of you who have been #blessed with an RBF, you'll probably relate to these more than you'd like to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774792
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

A Candid Letter to My Best Friends Ex

Because this is the real form of torture you deserve.

1435
middle finger
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

What's up Asshat,

I've composed a list of things that I wish upon you, and they're harsh and cruel. These things are things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst of enemies, not even that Starbuck's barista who always screws up my order, not even him. You fall into a whole other category of hate. You surpass Starbucks barista. Congratulations, I'm actually a pretty nice person, making you worthy of every single bit of torture I wish upon you. What are these things I wish upon you you might ask?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments