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Keeping Children Entertained – Eight Inexpensive Ideas

When the kids get home from school in the afternoon and say ‘I’m bored’, at least you can point them towards doing their homework – however – when it’s the week-end, a long week-end or school holidays – you know that it won’t be long until you hear ‘I’m bored’ several times a day!

Times are tough economically but entertaining kids has never been an expensive enterprise -  so here are eight ideas to keep your children busy, creative and active during these long summer months.

Milk Jug Bird Feeders – Rinse out the empty plastic gallon milk jug with lid. Cut a window in the front of the jug, and make two small poke holes for the perches. Insert sticks for perches and fill the bottom of the jug with bird seed suitable to the birds in your area. Depending on the ages of the child, let them problem solve and figure out the best way to secure the perch and if they wish they can decorate the birdfeeder before hanging it on the balcony or in the garden.

Aluminum Can Crafts – Paint an empty, rinsed out tuna can with acrylic paint or spray paint.Decorate with glitter, glue, buttons, stickers and any other odds and ends you might find. Once completed these make cute holders for barrettes, pony tail holders, paper clips, rubber bands, keys, jewelry etc. Apply the same idea to an empty soup can to make a pen or pencil holder. These are great to give to dad to take into the office.

Coloring in – Coloring in was the staple activity of many summer holidays when I was little. If you have access to the internet and a printer, it means you don’t even have to pay for a coloring book. When it comes to coloring pictures, you really can’t go wrong with Disney and at sites like Disney Coloring Pages you’ll find the best printable coloring

Coffee Can Stilts – Using two 1-pound coffee cans, turn each can upside down so that the plastic lid is on the bottom. Using a scredriver, an adult should poke two holes – one each side of the can. Using some rope, thread through holes in the cans. Tie off inside the can and practice walking on them. Kids cand ecorate the cans if they so wish.

Jar Candles – Keep aside the stubs of candles. When you have several saved, melt them together in a double boiler. Color the wax by adding small pieces of wax crayon to the mixture. Pour the wax into glass jelly or mason jars or metal cans. Use cotton string for wicks and decorate the outside of the candle holder with acrylic paints. After dusk – light your candle…but always surpervise your children around flames!

Paper Towel Rain Makers – Young kids love noise makers such as maracas. Paint, color and decorate the paper towel rolls. Cover one end of a paper towel roll with waxed paper (for extra noise!) and close it off with a rubber band or three. Pour a handful or three of dried beans in the open end and close the open end the same way as the other. Poke toothpicks through the rolls at different intervals to add a ‘rain shaker’ sound – like the ones the aboriginal people of Australia create.

Paper Towel Tube Holders – Decorate a discarded paper towel tube with paint, markers, stickers and crayons. Once decorated this is  a colorful carrying tube. Roll up drawings and pictures and put them  inside the tube  to take them to  their teacher, grandparents, friends or relatives.

Pet Rocks – Pet rocks have stood the test of time and any rock can be turned into a pet rock with a lick of paint and some googly eyes. First, find smooth, flat or round rocks. Be sure to clean off any mud or sand and dry completely before starting. Painting with acrylic paints. Decorate faces by using googly eyes, yarn for hair,  glitter and any other bits and pieces you like. I always add freckles on my Pet Rocks!

Enjoy yourself these summer holidays!