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7 things to do indoors with your kids this holiday

23 Dec, 2013

School’s out once again and the kids are in – can’t figure out how to keep them entertained? Here's a list of 7 cost-friendly activities

7indooractivities-cover

7indooractivities-cover

1. Homemade Playdough

1. Homemade Playdough

We know all children love getting creative with play dough – who doesn’t love bringing their imagination to life? Making your own play dough certainly turns the fun up a notch. Follow this simple recipe to your own no-cook play dough that you can then store in airtight containers for future play!

What you’ll need:

• 3/4 cup salt • 2 - 3 cups flour • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 1 tsp food colouring • 2 tbs cream of tartar • 1 cup water

Combine all your ingredients in a large bowl, adding the water last before kneading till you get your desired consistency. Try combining different food dyes for interesting colours!

2. Fairy Glow Jars

2. Fairy Glow Jars

Perfect replacements for nightlights, these glowing jars will give your child’s room a whimsical touch – also they’re loads of fun to make! All you need to do is paint the inner surface of a glass jar with glow-in-the-dark fabric paint!

What you’ll need: • Glass jars • Glow Fabric Paint • Paintbrushes • Newspaper (to keep the paint off your floors!)

Paint on dots and try doing several layers, allowing each previous layer to dry first. Experiment with doing one layer in a particular colour followed by a second layer in a different one!

We know that there are plenty of tutorials that use the liquid from glow sticks to create these glow jars. Sure, it will save a lot of time and has a slightly prettier effect, but the liquid is highly toxic and we wouldn’t recommend exposing your kids to it. Plus, fabric glow paint won’t stop glowing unlike glow sticks!

3. Indoor Picnic

3. Indoor Picnic

Children love the idea of doing things out of the ordinary, like eating somewhere other than the dinner table, for example. Here’s just the thing – a picnic, indoors!

What you’ll need:

• A large sheet • Finger foods and snacks • Paper plates and cups

Spread out the sheet in your living room floor and lay out your snacks, sandwiches along with your child’s favourite drink (as a treat). Then settle down with them and have your own little picnic without ever leaving your home. Throw on your hats and shades to add to the mood!
4. Jungle Jar

4. Jungle Jar

Always wanted to make baking with your little ones more exciting? Nothing spells creativity like jar jungles! Use old jam or cookie jars that you have lying around the house – jars with a wider rim will make eating and decorating easier.

What you’ll need:

• Glass jars • Grated coconut • Food colouring • Gummy snakes and other animals • Biscuit Sticks (Pocky works) • Fondant • Pre-mixed cake mix (Betty Crocker’s is easy to use) • Eggs • Vegetable Oil • Water

Empty out your cake mix into a large bowl, add your eggs, water and oil. Stir until you have a smooth mixture. Divide the mixture into however many jars you wish to use. Ensure that the mixture does not sit higher than ¾ of the jars or it will overflow when you bake.

To bake, fill a roasting pan with water. Line your jars inside the roasting pan, water should come up to about a quarter way of the jars. Stick it in the oven and let it bake (follow the instructions of the cake mix).

Once the jars have cooled down enough to touch, let the kids go crazy decorating. Add green colouring to your coconut and you’ve got grass. Use the biscuit stick as tree trunks and twirl your gummy snakes around them! To top it off, cut leaves out of fondant and lay them over your jar opening.

5. Treasure Hunt

5. Treasure Hunt

An oldschool treasure hunt is a great way to entertain the kids at home! Pick up little toys and sweets from places like Daiso or anywhere else you prefer. Place these items around the house and have your children go on a wild treasure hunt! Make a map if you want – it’ll add to the excitement.

What you’ll need:

• An assortment of small toys • Sweets and chocolates • Paper and crayons (for your map)

This game works best for children a little older so you don’t have to worry about the choking hazard small toys present.
6. Make A Face

6. Make A Face

We find that when you’re children get a hand in making something of their own they enjoy it that much more. Which is why we think this next toy will be hit with your little ones! The possibilities are endless – have your kids flip the features whichever way they please as you try to guess the emotion their trying to convey!

What you’ll need:

• Fasteners • Glue • Scissors • Cardboard • Needle and thread

Cut out shapes for the face, eyes, nose, mouth and eyebrows – you can use the template from www.mrprintables.com

Fasten the different features to the circular base and get emotive! Source: mrprintables.com
7. Bean Mosaic

7. Bean Mosaic

This is as inexpensive as they come – bean mosaics are an interesting way to allow your children to discover their creative sides! Using different coloured beans and lentils, children can create exciting pieces of art.

What you’ll need:

• An assortment of beans • Glue • Stiff paper

Additionally, you can print out simple pictures and have the kids match the colours with beans!

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Written by

Sonia Pasupathy

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