By Trisha Novotny
From Ideas That Spark
There's nothing more anxiety-inducing than being cooped up inside during bad winter weather -- unless it's being cooped up with kids who complain that they have nothing to do. When "I'm bored" syndrome strikes, try one of these fun-but-simple winter projects for kids to cure them.
Trash Art
Collect throwaway items -- such as recyclables, string, ribbon, clothes hangers and scraps of old clothing -- in reuseable shopping totes. Once you have a good assortment, get out the glue, tape (Scotch, masking or duct) and scissors and let your kids begin creating "trash art." You'll be amazed at what they come up with -- from robots to doll houses to 3-D collages.
Kool-aid Clay Dough
Between making the dough (with your help!) and then using it to create brilliant works of art, this one activity works double-time keeping kids occupied.
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid
2 cups boiling hot water
2 tablespoons oil
- Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Bring water and oil to a boil.
- Pour boiling liquid mixture over dry ingredients and continue mixing until it forms a ball.
- Let cool. Remove from bowl, place on a hard surface and knead until smooth.
- Store in food-storage bags.
NOTE: This is not edible dough -- it only smells yummy!
Snow Cream
When your kids are done playing with the snow outside, they can bring some of it inside for a real treat!
Ingredients:
1/2 gallon clean snow (fill gallon-size storage bag halfway)
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Leave your snow in the food-storage bag or dump it into a large bowl.
- Add all other ingredients and knead the bag (wear gloves to protect hands) or mix in bowl with a spoon.
- Once mixed, it's time to dig in!
Snow Painting
Ingredients:
Food coloring, various colors
Empty, plastic squirtable bottles (shampoo, ketchup or store-bought) -- one for each color you'd like to make
Water
Snow
- Fill each squirtable bottle with water.
- Add 3 to 4 drops of food coloring.
- Close bottle and shake to create your colorful snow-paint.
- Bundle up and head outdoors to your snow-filled yard. Begin creating snow art, drawing and coloring by squirting your paint into the snow!
Snowman Party
Celebrate winter with a snowman party of frosty treats, games, crafts and fun. For more winter projects for kids, go to 24/7 MOMS.
How do you keep your kids from the "I'm bored" syndrome in the winter?
Trisha Novotny is the creator of 24/7 Moms, a blog that offers fun, keeping-it-simple ideas to make every moment as a mom count.
Copyright (c) 2011 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.
When "I'm bored" syndrome strikes, try one of these fun-but-simple winter projects for kids to cure them. (©iStockphoto.com/KidsInside.Craig Veltri)
