| With the holidays quickly approaching, it's | | | | play for hours drawing on the sidewalks, |
| likely that you'll have some unscheduled | | | | driveway, and just about anything else.7. |
| 'down-time' with your child where you don't | | | | Make Contraptions: Older children will |
| have anything actually planned. Just because | | | | really love the idea of making inventions out |
| you don't have any planned activities with | | | | of recyclable materials. You'll need |
| your child doesn't mean that they have to | | | | recycled toilet paper tubes, paper towel |
| languish on the couch in boredom. Take a | | | | tubes, wrapping paper tubes, plastic bottles, |
| look at these quick and easy anytime | | | | and other appropriate recyclables along with |
| activities.1. Make Paper Stuff: It doesn't | | | | some tape, scissors, and marbles. Tape the |
| take a lot of work or planning for children | | | | tubes together to make a long runway that |
| to create great paper crafts. You can simply | | | | starts at some high point (like a chair) and |
| make a lot of paper supplies available and | | | | eventually ends at the floor. When complete, |
| let them go to town. Provide paper plates, | | | | roll the marbles through the tubes to test |
| construction paper, scissors, markers, | | | | your contraption. You child may even think |
| crayons, glue, stamps, or stickers and let | | | | of other types of contraptions based on this |
| them make their own creations.2. Paint | | | | idea.8. Nature Walks: This may seem silly, |
| Something: Kids generally love anything that | | | | but your kids will love spending time with |
| has to do with painting. You could give them | | | | you doing this... all you have to do is take |
| some finger paints and paper, provide water | | | | your child for a stroll in your neighborhood |
| colors, or even let them paint up some scraps | | | | or at a park. Spend time talking about |
| of wood or rocks. When given a choice | | | | things you observe as you walk and take your |
| between painting or carving their pumpkins | | | | time. When you're done you could write about |
| each year, my kids always choose painting... | | | | what you saw, draw pictures, collect found |
| kids LOVE to paint!3. Pound Some Clay: | | | | objects and make an art piece. Don't forget |
| There's just something about manipulating | | | | to bundle up in inclement weather.9. Paper |
| modeling clay that kids find appealing | | | | Airplanes: Gather up a pile of paper and |
| (grownups too!). Give you child a couple of | | | | make paper airplanes with your child. Take |
| cans of playdough or make up a batch of salt | | | | turns flying them and test out which |
| dough and they'll have a ball. Here's an | | | | techniques work the best. You could even |
| idea... make some salt dough, create the | | | | take turns flying them off a balcony or deck |
| figures, dry them out in the oven, and then | | | | to really add to the experience. Better yet, |
| paint them to combine painting and | | | | pre-purchase a book of directions for making |
| modeling!4. Have A Puppet Show: You can | | | | paper airplanes and work your way through the |
| make puppets out of just about anything you | | | | book together.10. Create An Obstacle Course: |
| have lying around the house... recycled | | | | This idea may be a little messy, but your |
| bottles, wooden or plastic spoons, paper | | | | kids will love it. Create an obstacle |
| bags, craft sticks, etc. all work as a good | | | | course, inside or outside, using objects |
| base, then add paper, felt, yarn, wiggle | | | | around the house, then take turns navigating |
| eyes, or other objects to make the puppet. | | | | the course for time. You could crawl under |
| Once the puppets are done, the back of the | | | | tables, over chairs, around objects, etc. all |
| couch, a table, or even an old box provides a | | | | the way to the finishing line.There are |
| great puppet theater.5. Play Dress-Up: | | | | probably a lot of other great ideas that |
| Children love nothing better than dressing up | | | | aren't listed here, but this should get you |
| and pretending to be someone else. We keep | | | | thinking. The REAL idea here is to spend |
| all our old Halloween costumes in our | | | | some time with your child and let them be |
| dress-up box, but you could also let the kids | | | | creative while you're doing it.Kid Crafts |
| dress up in old clothes that you're going to | | | | Magazine makes it Easy to craft with children |
| throw out anyway. An impromptu game of | | | | of |
| dress-up is always a fun activity.6. Outside | | | | |
| Drawing: Give the kids a bucket of sidewalk | | | | all ages. |
| chalk, turn them loose outside, and they'll | | | | |