Summertime is on, and the kids are out of school. Every mom knows that for these three months it's more important than ever to keep the kids busy. But you don't have to schedule your life away with camps, or drop a bundle on activities and games that come in …
Finger Paint
Everyone loves to paint—even kids. Mix together cornstarch, salt, sugar, water, and food coloring to create your own inexpensive concoction. Store in an airtight container, and you'll have it at your fingertips whenever the need for art arises.
Felt Play Mat
Collect your fabric scraps and fashion a city play mat that you can fold up and take anywhere. Whether you machine or hand sew, you can create the perfect place for toy cars (or wild animals) to cruise. And, best of all, there are no annoying traffic noises (except for the ones your kids make).
Bookcase Dollhouse
Transform a bookcase into a dollhouse using little more than some wrapping paper and cardboard. Just apply the paper to the walls with double-sided tape and cut decorative elements like rugs, doors, and pictures out of the cardboard. Add some dollhouse furniture and get ready to move in.
Tire Swing
Provided you have a tall tree, you can turn your backyard into an amusement park with relatively little effort. Gather together some simple hardware, a rope or chain, and a tire that needs recycling. Make the swing even more fun by painting colorful polka dots on the tire.
Chalkboard Table
Give any small table a fresh new look—and a second life—with a coat of chalkboard paint. Simply apply a coat with a brush or spray can, gather some chalk, and let the nonstop creativity ensue. Bring the fun indoors by painting a bedroom wall with the same paint.
Play Kitchen
With a little ingenuity, you can turn an old cabinet, entertainment center, or dresser into a play kitchen. Create a fun backsplash, and add a shelf, towel rack, and drawer pulls, and your burgeoning chef will feel right at home.
Fort Kit
Assemble all the ingredients for a DIY fort in one neat package. Great building materials include bed sheets, clamps, a flashlight, rope, clothespins, and suction cups. Warning: As construction gets under way, prepare to relinquish your couch cushions!
Crayons
Recycle your broken crayons into brand-new ones. Just peel the wrappers off and break the crayons into small pieces. Put them in a muffin tin and bake in a low oven until they’ve melted. Let them cool and pop them out for a rainbow of coloring fun.
Superhero Capes
If you can cut and glue, you can make a superhero cape. Just cut out the cape from felt and add iron-on Velcro at the neck for a closure. Glue some felt designs on the back, and voilà! Instant awesomeness. While you’re at it, make one for yourself, Super Mom!
Blend together water, dish soap, and glycerin for a homemade bubble mix that will make your kids pop with joy. Twist shapes into the ends of a few pipe cleaners, and you’ll have some quick wands to go with the bubble juice. Bubble armageddon is close at hand!
Finger Paint
Everyone loves to paint—even kids. Mix together cornstarch, salt, sugar, water, and food coloring to create your own inexpensive concoction. Store in an airtight container, and you'll have it at your fingertips whenever the need for art arises.
Felt Play Mat
Collect your fabric scraps and fashion a city play mat that you can fold up and take anywhere. Whether you machine or hand sew, you can create the perfect place for toy cars (or wild animals) to cruise. And, best of all, there are no annoying traffic noises (except for the ones your kids make).
Bookcase Dollhouse
Transform a bookcase into a dollhouse using little more than some wrapping paper and cardboard. Just apply the paper to the walls with double-sided tape and cut decorative elements like rugs, doors, and pictures out of the cardboard. Add some dollhouse furniture and get ready to move in.
Tire Swing
Provided you have a tall tree, you can turn your backyard into an amusement park with relatively little effort. Gather together some simple hardware, a rope or chain, and a tire that needs recycling. Make the swing even more fun by painting colorful polka dots on the tire.
Chalkboard Table
Give any small table a fresh new look—and a second life—with a coat of chalkboard paint. Simply apply a coat with a brush or spray can, gather some chalk, and let the nonstop creativity ensue. Bring the fun indoors by painting a bedroom wall with the same paint.
Play Kitchen
With a little ingenuity, you can turn an old cabinet, entertainment center, or dresser into a play kitchen. Create a fun backsplash, and add a shelf, towel rack, and drawer pulls, and your burgeoning chef will feel right at home.
Fort Kit
Assemble all the ingredients for a DIY fort in one neat package. Great building materials include bed sheets, clamps, a flashlight, rope, clothespins, and suction cups. Warning: As construction gets under way, prepare to relinquish your couch cushions!
Crayons
Recycle your broken crayons into brand-new ones. Just peel the wrappers off and break the crayons into small pieces. Put them in a muffin tin and bake in a low oven until they’ve melted. Let them cool and pop them out for a rainbow of coloring fun.
Superhero Capes
If you can cut and glue, you can make a superhero cape. Just cut out the cape from felt and add iron-on Velcro at the neck for a closure. Glue some felt designs on the back, and voilà! Instant awesomeness. While you’re at it, make one for yourself, Super Mom!
Blend together water, dish soap, and glycerin for a homemade bubble mix that will make your kids pop with joy. Twist shapes into the ends of a few pipe cleaners, and you’ll have some quick wands to go with the bubble juice. Bubble armageddon is close at hand!
