A Guide to Keeping Your Kids Entertained

Paper Making!
Okay this may take some of your time but it gives your kids something to do and they can use the paper after project is complete to make some other things like cards or they can draw on it.

All you need is old news papers or magazines, A blender, some water, some corn starch,Some old window screen and a frame.

Soak the paper in some water for a few minutes. Pour water and paper into a blender and blend until paper is all mixed up. Stop blending and add corn starch. Mix a few minutes more. Place framed screen over a tub to catch the excess water and pour paper pulp on the screen. Remove screen from the tub and place screen against a towel. Using a sponge gently press sponge on paper surface and wring out excess water. Let dry for a few minutes and then pull paper from screen. In a few hours you kids will have helped you make paper. You can also add different food colors to the paper mixture to make different colored paper.

Make your favorite animal
Granted this would be for a small child but it keeps them busy.

What you need Paper bags, glue, Scissors, Different colors of felt or fabric, yarn in different colors, and crayons or markers.

Any thing goes with this project. Have your kids to design a mask from the paper bag using the supplies you gave them. and you will be surprised at how creative they can be.

Bean Bag game they can make
What you need

Small zipper seal bags one for each child, Plastic buckets, permanent marker, and Uncooked rice or beans

Fill each bag with rice or beans and seal. You will need one bag for each kid. With the marker number the buckets and line them up. Each Child takes a turn tossing their "bean bag" at the buckets the child that gets theirs in the highest numbered bucket wins. This game is also good as a party game.

BIRD FEEDERS
Have your kids to make bird feeders out of objects that normally end up in the trash.

What you need is plastic pop bottles, pie plates, bird seed and string. if using a plastic bottle you need to cut a hole in the bottle to protect them from cutting themselves. Poke holes in the sides to run the string through. in the pie plate poke hole in the rim and run string through the holes. Hang and feel with bird seed.

Another option is have the kids look for pine cones. Coat pine cones with peanut butter and roll in the bird seed. Tie a string around one end and hang in the tree.

Star Mobile
This is great for small kids.

What you need Poster Board, Scissors, foil, glitter, glue, String, and drinking straws.

From the poster board cut out shapes. My kids like stars so thats what they used. Have them cover the shapes with the foil or different colors of glitter using the glue the help hold the foil and glitter in place. Poke a hole in the edge of of the shape and string. using different lengths of string tie the shapes to the straws. three works best. For added affect tie another shape to the center shape on your mobile. Hang and enjoy.

Cards
From scraps of paper or even the paper they made have your kids make cards for their grandparents. Or any family member that they don't get to see very often.

All you need is card stock, scraps of paper, glue, glitter and Pens.

Have them to design a card that they like. You will be surprised at how creative they can be with them.

Story Time
This is fun for them they can make up stories to tell each other. Their imaginations the limit.

These are just a few things I do with my boys. Well at least when they were smaller now they are more interested in their game systems. But from time to time they humor me and let me teach them a new craft. Teaching our kids to be creative and not limiting them with their creativity only increases their ability to grow in a creative way. So don't hold them back let their creativity grow with them. It teaches them so much about life.