Headboards and Footboards

It's my opinion that kids should be allowed to help decorate their rooms from the time they are very young. After all, it is their space. The one place in the world where they have things the way they want them. Everything is their size and as far as their eyes can see there are toys and picture books. A wonderful, fun idea for decorating a child's bed is to paint the headboard and footboard. Now, by this I mean that the child does the painting. This can be done as soon as a child can finger-paint. Of course using non-toxic paint is a must and a washable one is probably a good idea too.

This can be done before the child is old enough to actually participate too, you just have to treat their hands and feet like rubber stamps.

First, get your paint colors picked out. I always like to use primary colors in a young child's room. They are bright and cheerful and are after all the first colors they will be learning. Not a bad idea to surround them with these colors. Although through the course of this project, they will no doubt stumble across the formula for making purple and think they are the only ones that know this secret. This is an exciting discovery for a young child. I still remember when I discovered how to do it!

Be sure to pick a time to do this project when you are not on a time restriction. You want this to be quality time with your child and for it to be a fun experience for you both. Be sure to prepare the room you will be working in. The garage is a good place to do it as everything can just be hosed off after you're finished. Again you want this to be a fun experience and someone getting in trouble for getting paint on something isn't fun for anyone. So, be sure to use a place where a kid can be a kid and you may be a kid right along with them.

Now, the idea is to do the footboard in of course, the child's feet. So, that's right, you guessed it, let them stick the bottoms of their feet in the paint. Then they can press their painted foot to the board and repeat the process in each of the different colors until there are enough footprints for everyone's liking. I have found that pouring a small amount of paint onto a plastic or Styrofoam plate helps. That way your child just has to step on the plate then onto the footboard. This also prevents too much paint getting on their feet. You can also paint the bottoms of their feet, instead of having them step in the paint. You can use a paintbrush or a sponge for this. This technique is less messy and therefore less fun though.

Then it's on to the handprints! Repeat the process on the headboard. When your child has finished with all their handprints, have them pick a color for you. Place your hand in the paint and then onto their headboard. Try to put your handprint somewhere close so that they may "touch" your hand after you have left the room, before they fall asleep. This also helps them feel that you are there with them in the night. When you are done with your masterpiece, allow sufficient drying time and then you as the adult will need to put a coat or two of varnish on both pieces. This will keep the paint from chipping off and give it a nice glossy finish. Here you have created a wonderfully fun piece of furniture for your child's room and a memory they will cherish forever.