As a parent, I have sometimes made the mistake of buying toys for my kids thinking that the toys will entertain my children for months. Many times my kids lose interest before I have even come close to getting my money’s worth out of the items we have bought.
I am learning that with a little creativity, I can find oodles of fun using ingredients from our own pantry and craft supplies. The best part about creating your own entertainment is that it is not only frugal, but it allows you to bond with your children.
Here are just a few of my favorite recipes to keep the kids entertained when the days are long and I am looking for a creative way to keep them busy.
Scratch and Sniff Watercolors
1 tablespoon unsweetened powdered drink mix
1 tablespoon warm water
Several small containers (or a muffin tin)
Mix water and unsweetened drink mix together in a small bowl. Repeat this step several times, using various flavors of drink mix to create different colors of paint. Encourage your kids to then paint on paper. Allow finished works to dry overnight before scratching and sniffing.
Silly Putty
1 tablespoon liquid starch
2 tablespoons white glue
Food coloring
Plastic egg or plastic storage bag
Mix white glue and food coloring together in a small bowl. Pour liquid starch into a second small bowl. Slowly pour the glue mixture on top of the liquid starch. Allow the concoction to stand for 5 minutes or until the glue absorbs the liquid starch. Remove putty from bowl and knead. At first this mixture may look as if it's a mistake, but it isn't. The more you knead the putty, the better the consistency will be. Store in a plastic egg or plastic storage bag.
Pudding Paint
1 large package of instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz)
½ - 1 cup of cold water
Food coloring
Whisk water and instant pudding together in a bowl for two minutes. Refrigerate covered for five minutes. Divide into several small bowls or muffin tins. Add 5-7 drops of food coloring to each bowl or tin and mix. You can paint with a brush or use them as finger paints.
Edible Play Dough
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup dry milk
1/2 tablespoon honey
Plastic storage bag
Pour peanut butter, dry milk and honey into a plastic storage bag. Close bag and knead until mixture turns into dough. Do not reuse or store this dough. You can use raisins and assorted candies to add eyes, mouths, and other features to your edible creations.
Invisible Ink
2 tablespoons pure lemon juice
Cotton swab
Pour lemon juice into a small glass or plastic dish. Soak one end of the cotton swab to write a secret message or draw a picture on a sheet of paper. When you are ready to view your secret message, hold the sheet of paper near a light bulb. The heat will slowly turn the lemon juice dark brown and reveal a hidden message.