Activities for Kids

Homemade Play Dough

By

Store bought play dough is fun to play with, but you can make your own at home for less and part of the fun is making it with the kids. Here is a easy to follow recipe that can be made on the stove or in the microwave:

* 1 cup of flour
* 1 cup of water
* 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
* ½ cup of salt
* 1 tablespoon of oil
* Food coloring (optional)

Combine all the ingredients in a pot or microwave safe dish and mix until it is lump-free. Then on the stove stir over low heat until the mixture starts to thicken being careful that it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom. Stop when it is the consistency you want for the play dough. When making the play dough in the microwave cook it in small increments on a lower power setting. Take it out and stir at least every 45
seconds. Again, you are done when the play dough has reached the desired consistency.

Let the children play and build whatever they want. If they don’t already have toys designated for play dough let them use some kitchen utensils such as cookie cutters and a rolling pin. It is food safe and easy to clean-up afterwards.

If something is sculpted or made that the child is particularly proud of, set it in the sun for a day or two and let it dry out. It should harden nicely, and they will be able to keep it for some time.

Charge the children to use the dough to find different textures around the house or outside. Gently press the play dough into the textured surface and see if the children can guess what it came from (like the bottom of a shoe or a cheese grater).

Safety in the Summer Sun

By

Precautions should be taken year-round to protect young skin from the harsh effects of the sun. But this is especially important in the summertime when the sun is at its hottest. Aside from sunburns, heatstroke and dehydration are additional hazards to watch out for in young children. But with a few safety steps and by planning ahead you can avoid sunburns and the like.

The best way to prevent sunburns, heatstroke and dehydration is to stay out of the sun. But that isn’t practical or very fun. Buy sunscreen that is specifically made for children and be sure to apply it at least 30 minutes prior to going outside. This gives the sunscreen time to work. Once outside, reapply every two hours or more frequently if there is swimming or a sprinkler involved. There are many products that can be purchased to make this easier from colored sunscreen that goes clear after it is absorbed by the skin to spray brands to make application easier.

Once outside, a hat is still important. Ideally the hat will cover the face, ears and the back of the neck – all very sensitive body parts that are prone to getting burnt. Wearing a hat will also protect you and the kids against heatstroke. Have water available for each child when playing outside. The combination of them running around and the hot sun can quickly dehydrate little bodies.

Staying out of the sun from 11:00 a.m. until after 2:00 p.m. is the best prevention. This is the hottest time of the day and when the sun is at its peak. By avoiding the outdoors at this time of day you can prevent sun related illnesses. If this isn’t possible seek out some shade for the kids to take a break in. Avoiding the sun isn’t the solution it is being smart when you are out in it.

Charades for Kids

By

The traditional way to play charades is to have slips of paper with all of the words or items that need to be acted out written down. But to make things easier for the kids and have them use their imaginations more have them decide what they are going to act out without telling anyone. This is a great game for outside or indoors on a rainy day. If some of the children are having a hard time thinking up ideas be prepared with a few back-up ones to whisper in their ear.

If you have enough people to play, charades can be played in teams, but it also works with single players. One person stands up and has to act out a word, object or saying. Depending on the ages of the children, objects are usually the easiest things for them to act out. There is absolutely no talking done by the person who is doing the acting (also called pantomiming).

As the child is trying to get the other kids to guess what they are acting out the kids yell out their guesses. It is okay for the actor to give an indication if they are right, wrong, or on the right track by hand and head gestures. If playing as individuals instead of teams, the first person who correctly guesses the object gets to be the next person to pantomime an object.

Some easy objects for kids to start with are helicopters, airplanes, rowboats, cars. Emotions or actions can be fun too such as laughing, being silly, scared, or crying. For older children they can act out a movie title. When a string of words is involved, it is easiest to tackle one word at a time. This is a classic game that is still around because it is so much fun.

X