Entertaining Kids With Cheap, Cool Stuff

As winter seems to drag on and on and kids itch for something new to pass the time, parents can get worn out trying to keep up. There are lots of fun, easy, and best of all, cheap things you can find and whip up right in your own home. Some of my favorites follow.

This is a great play dough recipe. I have tried several and this recipe lasts for several months if stored in an airtight container. 1 cup flour, 1 cup warm water, 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1 tsp vegetable oil, 1/4 cup salt, food coloring. Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Cook over medium heat until a smooth ball forms. Remove and knead 5 minutes. You may need to add some flour while kneading if it is too sticky.

Silly putty is an old favorite. You can create this recipe at home with little effort. 1 part liquid starch, 2 parts white glue, food coloring. Pour glue in a bowl. Slowly add the remaining ingredients. Let stand 5 mintues. Mix with hands. If it's too gooey, add more starch. If it's too hard, add more glue.

Younger and older children alike can enjoy passing time while fingerpainting on a rainy day. Try this recipe. 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 cup of cold water, 1 package unflavored gelatin, 2 cups boiling water, food coloring. Mix cornstarch with 3/4 cup cold water in a saucepan. Soak gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside. Stir boiling water into cornstarch mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin. Cool and divide into airtight containers. Stir a different food coloring into each container. Store in the refrigerator.

I make this peanut butter dough for my kids and half of it is eaten before they ever get around to making something out of it! It's edible and pretty good for them, too. Kids can embellish their creations with coconut, raisins, chocolate chips, etc. 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 1/2 cups instant powdered milk, 3 Tablespoons honey. Mix until smooth. If it's too dry, add more honey. If it's too moist, add more powdered milk.

Some websites that have games, activities, color sheets to download, and other fun stuff for kids are www.pbs.org and www.nickjr.com. My kids like the things I download for them from these websites because they get to see their favorite characters. Another great resource is www.kidsdomain.com. You will be pleased with the variety and abundance of things for you and your children on this website.

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