Hurrah!! Summer holidays are here! Let’s get on with the fun, with things you have around the house!
Frosty Fruit
Wash, dry, and freeze berries, cherries, or seedless grapes in a sealed container. Enjoy on a hot day.
Dripless Popsicles
Dissolve one 85 g package of Jell-o powder in 1 C. boiling water. Stir in 1 1/4 C. juice. Pour into moulds and freeze.
Sensational Slush
Fill a small yoghurt container 2/3 full with juice or pop. Cap with lid and place in freezer for 1 1/2 hours. Then, mix with fork every 1/2 hour or so until to desired consistency.
Water-gun Target Shooting
Stand plastic bottles up on a wall, fence, box, or table, with ping pong balls or empty film vials set on top of each one. From behind a firing line 3 – 4 paces back, shoot water at targets.
Wonderful Wet-prints
Pour water into a cake or bread pan. Dip your bare feet or hands into water and make wet-prints on the sidewalk.
Splashy Sidewalk Painting
Use a large paint brush (or plant mister) to create pictures on the sidewalk using water mixed with a little paint powder, food coloring, or Kool-Aid powder.
Bubblemania
Mix together 2 C. warm water, 1/4 C. good quality dish soap (Ie. – Dawn), a little food coloring or paint/Kool-Aid powder, and 2 Tbsp. glycerine or corn syrup. Use straws, funnels, whisks, small cookie cutters, etc. to make bubbles and more bubbles.
Sandcast Footprint
Dampen, pat down, and smoothen a small area of sand. Make a footprint in sand about 1/2″ deep. Mix together 1 C. water and 2 1/4 C. plaster of Paris to thickness of a milkshake. Pour mixture to fill in footprint. Leave to dry for at least an hour Record date and name on back.
Neon Sidewalk Chalk
Mix together 3 Tbsp. plaster or Paris, 2 Tbsp. paint powder (bright color), and 1/4 C. water. Pour into 2 solid-stick deodorant lids greased with butter. Let dry for a half hour. Then, loosen sides and knock chalk out.
Scoop Ball
Make ball scoops by cutting two or more 1 litre (or 1 quart) plastic milk jugs in half horizontally. Toss a small ball back and forth to a partner, using only the scoop to catch and throw the ball.
About the Author: Reprinted with permission from “Help! I’m Bored!” (Bluebell Cockle Shell Books). Janine Lynn is a parent, author, and educator. Born and raised in Alberta, she is the author of “Help! I’m Bored! – Over 300 Children’s Activities for Ages 2-12”. She wrote this book because she wanted all of her favorite teaching ideas collaborated into one book. Find out more about “Help! I’m Bored!” at: www.telusplanet.net/public/cscltd/page16.htmlor E-Mail Janine at dale&[email protected].