Monday, July 16, 2018
By Barbara Pronin
School’s out, and the last thing most parents want is for their kids to watch TV all summer. If you need ideas to keep them busy and happy – especially on a tight budget – check out these cool ideas:Make a two-liter bottle into a sprinkler – Use a small screwdriver to poke a few holes into three sides of the plastic bottle. Tape the bottle securely to a hose, turn on the water, and let your kids have at it.
Pitch a tent – Not using that camping tent any time soon? Put it up in your own backyard. It will give the kids a fun place to play and keep them out of the sun.
Make bird feeders – This is fun for older kids. In a saucepan, combine two packets of unflavored gelatin with two cups of water. Stir to dissolve and bring the mixture to a simmer. Remove from the heat, stir in two cups of birdseed, and let cool. Meanwhile, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spray the insides of a few cookie cutters. Lay them out on the paper. Spoon the bird seed mixture into the cookie cutters. Insert a straw into each one to form a hole for hanging. Refrigerate for an hour or so, then remove the cookie cutters and straws and insert twine for hanging.
Make ice cream cone planters – Help your kids fill ice cream cones with potting soil and seeds for favorite herbs. Kids will delight in watering them and delight in watching them sprout. Or, if you are planting a bigger garden, let the kids get creative and make colorful signs to separate the beans from the zucchini.
Make a pool noodle race track – Pool noodles are cheap. Cut one in half lengthwise with a serrated or electric knife and lay both long pieces on the ground side by side. Insert toothpicks where the two halves touch, using as many toothpicks as it takes to fasten and hold the ‘tracks’ close together. Clip off the ends of the toothpicks with a small pair of pliers so they are flush to the ‘tracks.’ Decorate the sides of your track with small flags glued to toothpicks, prop it up and start the competition to see whose small car reaches the finish line first.
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