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Imagination at Play
Don't Throw It Out!Save every paper towel roll, toilet paper roll, margarine tub, yogurt cup, plastic bottle cap, soda pop bottle, plastic jar, oatmeal or cornmeal container, coffee can (with plastic lid), and sturdy paper box. Let your kids build castles, forts, mountain ranges, and more with all these free construction materials.
Animal Cracker Race
This is an ideal game for two to four younger children: Use an old checkerboard (or, even better, make your own). Each child gets one animal cracker. Designate one corner square as the Start position and place hurdles (a chocolate kiss or a marshmallow) on random squares around the edge of the board. Each child rolls a die once, then moves his or her cracker the number of squares indicated by the die. If a player's animal cracker lands on a hurdle, the player must go back two squares -- but gets to eat the hurdle! The first animal cracker to make it all around the edge of the board wins. And the winner eats his or her cracker!
Story Sack
On days when the weather keeps you inside, when you're on a long car trip, or during evenings in hotels, this can be a fun pastime for everyone in the family: Fill a bag with pictures cut from old magazines. Take turns with your children picking out images and making up stories about them. Write out or tape-record the tales you create.
Stir Crazy
Kids love to help in the kitchen, especially if they get to eat what they make. Assign fun activities they can tackle with their bare hands, such as kneading bread dough or cutting out cookies. Decorating a sheet cake or a batch of sugar cookies is another favorite: Supply the youngsters with an array of sprinkles, chocolate bits, jelly beans, nuts, or fresh berries, and tell them to be creative. Let them eat their masterpieces when they are done.
Hold It!
Make your own crayon or pen holder:
- Take a foot-long scrap piece of a two-by-four and drill 1/2-inch-diameter holes in a line down the 2-inch side, spaced about 1/2 inch apart. If desired, paint the holder in a bright color.
- Use an old toothbrush cup with holes to hold pens, pencils, markers, and scissors (with the points down) handy for your little artist.
Everyone gets more junk mail than they'd like to, and most of it goes right into the trash. But before you throw away the ads, look through the envelopes. You may find free stickers (showing thumbnail-size magazine or CD covers, for example) that your kids will enjoy pasting on their creations.
Greening of the Thumbs
Another activity children usually like to help with, if encouraged, is gardening. If you have the space, give your children their own plots on which to grow whatever they fancy: tomatoes, watermelons, sunflowers. Teach them how to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and care for their plants. If space is limited, buy a window box planter or several small pots and let them learn container gardening.
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