Hand Print Family Treasure

What You Need:

• A large sheet of heavyweight white paper, approximately 12” x 30” (but it’s OK if it’s a little bigger or a little smaller).
• A second large sheet of paper in a bright color, at least 2” bigger all around, which you will use for a border
• Three or four colors of gooey water-based tempera paint (not watercolor), each with one brush
• One black or metallic marker (such as a Sharpie)
• As many family members as possible—this can include just your nuclear family, including pets, but don't leave out aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents if they are around!

What You Do:

1. Find a good work space. Beware: look for an area where you don't mind a mess. A back porch table is a good bet, and so is a tiled floor that you can wipe down later. Once you've scouted a location, have your child help you stretch your white paper across it, and hold down edges, if necessary, with weights. (A few well-placed books or cans of soup should do it.)
2. Ask your child to paint their right hand with a favorite color. Make sure the paint covers the full hand, and then press it down onto whatever area of the paper your child chooses—if you’re not sure you’re doing this right, practice on a smaller piece of paper.
3. Repeat this step with as many family members as you can gather, each of them picking from one of your color choices. This includes you, of course, but also pets and babies too! If you have a small group, you may have room for two hands per person; with a large group, you'll only have space for one. You may want to put hands in order, but a “collage approach” works just fine too. In any case, try not to have the hands touch—you will want to leave space for the next steps.
4. Let the runner dry. Most children’s paints dry fast, but don't skimp on this step. There's nothing more discouraging than a smudged masterpiece!
5. Sign and date it. Then ask each family member to add their signature and full name (first, middle and last) plus birth date (month, day and year) next to his or her hand. Worried about pet literacy? Appoint your child "Animal Secretary" and put them on the job.
6. Date the “document.”  With luck, this runner will be a family centerpiece for years. Choose one side, and have your child write your family's name, along with today's date, in their best writing.

Congratulations! For a few dollars, you've created a colorful, attractive family treasure to enjoy for years to come. For your young learner you've also communicated an early social studies lesson, which will be a crucial foundation for the future: your child was born into the context of a broader society, which has developed over time. Grandpa and Grandma were born decades ago; Mom and Dad decades after that; your child followed; and so on. In subsequent grades, teachers build on these lessons in more and more elaborate ways. In the meantime, the meals you savor together will testify: there's nothing quite like the power and comfort of family love.