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Recipes for Fun

© Peggy Hoehne

As winter creeps slowly toward spring, there will still be plenty of days when the kid's need something indoors to keep them occupied. This could be the time to combine a little kitchen experience with a fun project.

There are a number of recipes for making Playdough, Blowing Bubbles and other fun stuff. I'll share some with you here and tell you how to find more. Most are simple enough that children can help mix them up. They'll have even more fun playing with them when they can say, "I made it myself".

One of the easiest to make is Blowing Bubbles. All you need is ½ cup of Dawn liquid dish soap, 3 Tablespoons of Glycerine (obtainable at drug stores), and ½ gallon of water.

Mix gently, trying to avoid making bubbles on the surface. Try using a variety of circular objects to make the bubbles. You can make your own out of pipe cleaners if you can't find objects around the house that will work. The plastic rings from a 6-pack can be used.

Homemade Play Dough requires just a bit more kitchen experience but the kids can play with it for a long time to come. You will need: 1 cup Flour, ½ cup SaltCooking oil, 2 tablespoons Cream of Tartar, 1 cup of Water with desired color of Food Coloring added.

Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring until it is stiff. Cool. Knead out lumps. Store in an airtight container.

If a grey day needs to be brightened up mix up a batch of Rainbow Finger Paints . You will need: Food Coloring (red, yellow, green, blue), ½ cup Cornstarch, and 3 cups Cold Water.

Place cornstarch in a large bowl and blend in 1 cup water. Add remaining water. Microwave on high 8-9 minutes or until thickened, stirring every 2 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup thickened mixture into each of six small bowls. Add desired food coloring. Cool.

For those slightly older, easily bored kids, make their day with something truly disgusting. Mix up some Glubber, Gluep, Gak, Fake Snot, or Slime. To make Glubber you will need: 1 Yogurt Cup (empty), Measuring Cup, Spoon, Ziploc Bag, 1 tablespoon Borax, 1/4 cup Elmer's Glue, and 1/4 cup Water.

1. Measure ¼ cup water and pour into the yogurt cup. 2. Add the Borax and stir for two minutes. (Not all of the crystal will dissolve.) 3. Measure the glue and pour into the Ziploc bag. 4. Pour in the liquid from the cup. Do not pour the crystals on the bottom of the cup. 5. Seal the bag and squeeze gently for four minutes. (What Happened?) 6. Open the bag, hold it in the sink and let tap water run into the bag while you count very slowly to ten. 7. Remove the rinsed glubber and hold it over the sink to let any remaining liquid drain off.

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