As a parent of three, I realize how some days there is not enough hours in the day. We seem to be so busy. It is always nice to get outdoors, play ball and go swimming. As for now we are filling our days with sled riding, snow ball fights and making snowmen.Â
But what happens when the weather won’t permit going outdoors. Suddenly the kids are driving you crazy with the “I’m Bored syndrome.” What is a parent to do? I have some neat ideas to keep your children entertained for hours. Some how time just flies by. The kids stay interested from beginning to end. It is great for the whole family. The following is some easy to follow recipes for loads of fun. Most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen pantry. The children will need adult supervision when making the recipes. Once completed the kids can be on their own to give you the free time you need to make lunch or prepare dinner.
The first recipe for fun is Playdough fun! What child doesn’t like to play with playdough? What is more fun than making your own playdough? With a choice of two different kinds to make.
PLAYDOUGH FUN:Â
½ C. Salt ½ C. WaterÂ
2 C. Flour a few drops of food coloring (your child’s favorite color)
In a bowl mix flour and salt then add water and food coloring. Knead and Squeeze the dough to make a playdough texture. Your child will be able to join in on the making of his or her very own playdough.
SCENTED PLAYDOUGH:
1 ¼ C. Flour ½ C. Salt
1 ½ T. Vegetable oil 1 C. Boiling water
1 pkg. of unsweetened drink mix (such as kool-aid)
Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Knead for ten minutes. Store in plastic container or a plastic bag.Â
Something great about this playdough are the great flavors. You can use so many varieties to make wonderful colors and scents. Such as, use grape flavored drink mix and you have purple playdough and a wonderful grape scent. My children’s favorite is the cherry.Â
A few good tips for easy clean up. I always have a plastic tablecloth on hand. Than I spread it out on the kitchen floor. This is an easy way to keep it all in one place. When they are done playing I carefully roll up the tablecloth and shake it outdoors. Playdough is never a mess in my house, just hours of fun!
After all the playdough fun is done. You can surprise them again by letting them create their very own finger paint.
FUN FINGER PAINT:
½ Cup Cornstarch 3 Tbsp. Sugar
½ tsp. Salt 2 Cups cold water
Food coloring
In a medium pan, mix all the ingredients together. Cook over low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes. Keep stirring the mixture until it is smooth and thick like finger paint. After the mixture has thickened take the pan off the stove and let cool.
After cooling, divide the finger paint into storage containers depending on how many colors you would like. Add a couple drops of food coloring to each container. Stir the food coloring in to the paint to determine the shade of color you desire. Your kids are ready to paint the town. Cover tightly when storing.
A few tips on the finger painting fun. I give my children finger paint in the bathtub. While in the tub they paint on the shower and tub surround. They have plenty of space with out all the mess. When the paints are all gone, I just wash and rinse the children clean. When I remove the children from the bathtub I turn on the shower and rinse all the paint down the drain. This is a lot of fun for the children without all the frustration of getting the paint where it doesn’t belong.
Hope you have a “Happy Rainy Day” with your child or children. They will remember these fun days forever.
