Hands-on Fun for “I’m Bored” Days
“There’s nothing to do!” What parent hasn’t heard those words at one time or another? Here is some fun hands-on activities for all ages to keep them busy when it’s raining outside or simply to hot to venture go out to play.
Scratch and Sniff Painting – this is fun for the older ones as well.
What You Need
- watercolor paints (the ones you buy for a dollar at the Dollar Store are fine)
- craft glue
- fruit flavor Jello
- paper
- paintbrush
What You Do:
Draw or trace from a coloring book a picture of fruit or flowers. Paint it with watercolors. Let it dry. After your picture is dry spread craft clue a little at a time over the colored parts of your picture.
Sprinkle fruit flavored Jell-o over the wet glue. Use colors that match what you painted. Let your picture dry. The craft glue dries clear and you will be left with a sweet smelling picture.
Vanilla Ice Cream in a Baggie
What you need:
- 1/2 c. milk
- 1 T sugar
- 1/2 t. vanilla
- 1 ziploc freezer bag, pint size
- 1 ziploc freezer bag, gallon size
- ice cubes or crushed ice
- salt
What you do:
Put all the ingredients in a pint size Ziplocs freezer bag. Now put ice cubes or crushed inside the gallon bag. Add 6 T. salt. Place the smaller baggie inside the one with the ice. Make sure it is sealed tight! Zip the bigger one shut ...now shake, squish, wiggle, jiggle the bag until your ice cream starts to get thick, about 5 minutes. Enjoy!
Face Painting
What you need:
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon cold cream
- 1 to 2 drops food coloring
What you do:
In small bowl, combine the water and cornstarch. Mix in the cold cream. Add the food coloring to what you have mixed together so far. This paint washes off with soap and water!
Make Play dough
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 3 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
- 1 package Kool-Aid Mix (any flavor of unsweetened)
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Mix dry ingredients together in a large saucepan. Mix the oil and water together and slowly add to the flour mixture. Stir over medium heat until mixture thickens to dough. It may seem a bit wet but when kneaded becomes more play dough like. Dump onto the table or counter and let cool for a few minutes. Knead a few minutes until completely cool and then let the kids have it. Your play dough will be the color of the Kool-Aid you used and smell delicious. This can be stored in a tightly sealed container for several months. Non-toxic if nibbled on.
