Finally, a kiddy trend that ticks all the boxes. It doesn’t cost the earth, it doesn’t drive parents insane (a big hallelujah), it gets kids outdoors, and focuses on creativity. Could it get any better? Well, yes, it does! The new kid craze of rock painting is teaching our little angels to make the world a brighter place; spreading love and compassion in little bursts of color.
Quite simply children are finding rocks — preferably the smooth, flat variety — painting them, and then returning them to nature for others to come across. And it doesn’t stop there. Rock painting communities are springing up on Facebook, with the group Painted Rocks!!! giving great guidelines to making this new hobby a fun and giving affair, stressing: “Enjoy time with your family while teaching about how good it is to GIVE.” These communities are growing, with hashtags and websites sometimes painted on the backs of rocks for the finder to post pictures of their treasure online to the original rock painter and their community.
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Imagine the hours your little da Vincis could spend decorating these simple everyday objects. Then think of the joy of another child finding that rock and either adding it to their own collection, or finding it another hiding place outdoors. The added bonus with this new activity is that it’s available to anyone, anywhere. While on a family walk, or a trip to a neighbor’s house, you’ll never know if there’s a rock waiting for you or your kids to stumble across — but hopefully not trip over!
So forget Pokemon Go. If your kids are on a mission when you’re out and about, they’re hunting for a far greater reward than a virtual character, they’re after little signs of hope, of sharing, of giving. All you need to do is get out there, find some rocks, and get the paint brushes out — don’t forget, parents can share their artistic flair too! Happy hunting.
And today we celebrate...