Lovely children 2 / 可愛的孩子 2

今天的任務是彩繪牛仔帽，水彩筆一發、顏料一擠好，大人們就要有心理準備現場會失控。

Our mission today is coloring cowboy hats. As soon as the brush pens are distributed and paints are prepared, the adults have to be ready for any kind of "surprise" on the spot. 

        顏料有種魔力，會令我很興奮，我想對孩子們也是。

   Paints possess a powerful magic. They never fail to excite me, and I believe it's the same for the kids. 

        孩子們都很乖，因為我沒有說太多話，而大家一拿到材料總是很自動地開始創作，真的很有趣。

   The children are really well-behaved. I do not give too many instructions, and it's miraculous that they always get down to work without saying anything as soon as they receive the materials. 

        這兩天我和很多孩子說話，並且觀察他們，我覺得小朋友可能還沒有經過社會化的過程，尚未被教導要壓抑，外顯的性格特質高度一致，例如說圖中的小女生婕真，偏愛紅橘黃色調，個性非常明亮。

   I've been observing and talking to as many children as I can these two days. I notice that they, having not been taught to repress certain parts of their personalities, show extremely consistent traits. For example, the little girl in the photo, exhibits a strong preference for red, orange and yellow colors. She impresses me with her sunny disposition.

        為了今天的活動，爸爸媽媽也幫忙製作了小點心，是鳳梨芒果香蕉冰淇淋。

   For the activity today, Dad and Mom also offer to prepare the snack--homemade ice cream of mixed flavors, pineapple, mango, and banana. 

        等著乾的繽紛牛仔帽。

   The wet colorful cowboy hats wait to be put on by their youthful owners. 

        這個活動在家做也受到男孩們的喜愛！他們月底要帶帽子去度假呢！

   This activity is loved by the boys as well when we try it at home. They even plan to take the hats on vacation at the end of the month! 

Lovely children 1 / 可愛的孩子 1

今年夏天沒有出遠門的計畫，可是我想要認識很多小朋友，剛好同事們為孩子辦了夏令營，我很直率地跑去報名當美術課的講師。要準備課程的時候才開始覺得我是不是有點太直率了，雖然我在小朋友界裡很吃香，不過想到一下要應付四歲到十歲的孩子，再加上我不喜場面失控的個性，便有了小小的擔心，但既然都說了當然不能退縮。第一天我們要做的是馬蒂斯風格的拼貼和畫畫，在家把紙片都剪好，到現場隨小朋友自由發揮，應該會有很多美麗的小火花。

I do not plan to travel far this summer, but I do want to meet a lot of children. Hearing my colleagues' summer camp project for their kids, I couldn't help volunteering to give handicraft courses. It was not until I got down to details that I wondered if I was too impulsive. Despite my popularity among kids, I kind of panicked upon thinking if I could handle 22 children aged from 4 to 10. But the last thing I would do was to back out of the plan. 

   On the first day, we are going to create collages + drawings in the Matisse's style. I prepare many cut-outs for the children to use in class. I expect there to be a lot of amazing sparks. 

        小朋友可以幫小白人想像背景，選自己中意的紙張做排列，再為小白人畫上衣服。可能是媽媽在身邊陪伴，大家都很認真。

   Everyone can choose their own background design for their little white men and draw clothes for them. In their moms' company, the children are really well-behaved. 

        作品完成後，大家紛紛來找小淳老師說故事。這是來自澳洲的Miko，畫了美麗的公主在山林海洋和公園裡散步，非常大方，主動要求我拍照。

    After finishing their works, the kids come to tell me stories. This is Miko from Australia. Her story is about a beautiful prince taking a walk in the mountains, on the sea and in the park. She requests me to take a photo of her. What an outgoing and cute little girl. 

     和很多小朋友說完話之後有種很清新的感覺，很難用言語形容。

   I feel really refreshed after talking to a lot of children. It's a wonderful feeling beyond description. 

     雖然我沒做什麼事，可是我覺得自己收穫比小朋友還多！

  To be honest, I haven't done much, but I feel I've gained much more than the kids!