On the Go Finger Painting

For the fun of finger painting without the mess, simply squirt some paint in a sturdy Ziploc bag and seal it tight. Lay it on a flat surface and let your kids draw pictures in the paint through the bag. You just need to make sure your kids are either too young to open the bag or old enough to know not to do it!

Water Painting

This is simply a variation on Abby's previous post about the spray bottles. Sydney doesn't know how to use one yet, so I gave her some paint brushes and a bucket of water and let her go to town on the patio, the rocks, the ants, etc. while I get some yard work done. She loves it, there is absolutely no mess to clean up since the water just evaporates, and I get to hear her running around yelling, "I paintin'!"

Homemade Play Dough

Here is a recipe for homemade playdough. If your "wee" ones are anything like mine, this is great because it's edible. I don't encourage her to eat it, I just know she will.

Ingredients:
1 c. flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 c. salt
1 Tbl vegetable oil
1 c. water

Directions:
Combine ingredients in saucepan and mix well. Stir over low heat for about 5 mintes. When mixture forms a ball, remove from heat. Turn onto cookie sheet and cool. When cool enough to handle, add food coloring and knead until smooth. Store in airtight plastic container.

Notes:
I have not tried this recipe personally, so if anyone finds a problem with it or has a good trusted one (I know some get really liquidy quickly), let me know!

What's better than water?

This idea has saved me when I just need a few minutes. To finish dinner, make a phone call, or just eat a candybar in peace. Cheap, dollar store spray bottles. Fill 'em up with water, hand one to each of the kids and send them into the back yard. They spray the sidewalk, their bikes, each other, and love it.

Another one for kids is to put them in an empty bathtub with a pile of shaving creme and some kid paint brushes. Make sure they don't have clothes on that can't get stained though. After they paint everything, including themselves, let 'em wash it back off with a bucket of water. This will keep my girls entertained for honestly an hour and a half. It's how I pack for trips!

Cute Kid's Craft E-Book for Free!

I've just scanned through this, but it looked promising. Most of the crafts look a bit more advanced than I like to take on with my kids, but there is a recipe for silly putty and how to recycle old crayon bits.

I swiped the idea from the Utah Deal Diva, which is a great coupon/thrifty site I follow.

There's a 50-page downloadable Kid's craft guide available here. Enter your "junk" email address and click "Skip Other Offers" and you'll receive a cute guide filled with tons of neat projects for kids!

Quiet Activity

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A Great Church Activity!

Ella can't dump them, they don't come out as easily as they go in! I hold a handful and she has a great time popping them into the perfect sized hole. Best part is the whole activity is completely silent (well not always. . .)

Nature Bracelets

Most kids love being outside, and toddlers are fascinated by everything around them, which is very refreshing. I like being reminded that ants and rocks are amazing. To help your budding naturalist, let him or her make a nature bracelet.

ITEMS NEEDED
Clear packing tape
Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cut a piece of packing tape long enough to go around your child's wrist and overlap the ends with the sticky side of the tape up. While playing outside or on a walk, encourage your child to find differently shaped leaves, flower petals, grass blades, and more and stick them on his or her tape bracelet. When you are done, cover the bracelet with another piece of packing tape, sealing those natural treasures inside. Cut off of your child and let them use it as a bookmark or anything else their little heart desires.