Encourage the children to draw self-portraits as part of related child-initiated activities.
Resources
Paper - any colour except white or brown! - in a variety of sizes, but not too big (small sheets of paper often lend themselves better to portraits); crayons, pencils and paints with a wide range of tone (see Resources, pages 18-19); and safety mirrors, small hand mirrors and/or wall mirrors.
Play suggestions
* Allow the children to spend uninterrupted periods of time just looking at themselves from all angles.
* Make sure the paper and colouring media are accessible and allow the children to make as many portraits as they wish. The coloured paper will often provoke them to colour in their faces, which is less likely with white or brown paper, and encourages them to actively explore skin tone.
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