Keepin' Them Busy

Keeping kids busy on the cheap is not always easy.  The pool is good, but sometimes enough is enough of that hot hot summer heat,  For summer fun we use these ideas and others to keep us busy indoors or out:

• Bath Time Fun time:

My kids use bathtime as fun time.  Long ago I thought it'd be fun to introduce popsicles into the tub time (a bit Gummo-ish, yes).  I get two packs of Bolis for a dollar at the 99 cents store and they only eat half at a time.                               

This idea was super fun at first, but now my kids are popsicle obsessed and do not take a bath without them.  I've tempered the sugar with juice pops...I like these ikea molds because they are cheap and you don't have to run the whole set under water to loosen it.  

I use smoothies or sometimes (when it's on sale) the V8 Juice Fusions with fruit and veggie juice.  I know its still sugary but helps me feel better. 

 Then I started to just use water for the same fun effect when they've reached their popsicle quota for the day.  This keeps my fun baths going strong.

I also add things to the bath:  

1. Popsicle sticks are fun because they float and can be stuck to the wall the make letters and shapes.
2. Glow sticks are fun for play in the dark bath fun, just toss them in (I haven't gotten into the whole breaking them open fad yet (still scaredy).
3. Food Coloring!  My kids call it Blue bath because that's my littlest's favorite color.  Itdoesn't stain and it's so fun for them and me. I used to buy those color tabs at the grocery store, but food coloring is just as good and I always have it on hand.
4. Bubbles...actual bubbles to blow.  They end up dumping it in, but it's always fun to start.  I've used a bubble machine as well, which is better, but batteries are always running out.  Am I right?

• Easy forts:

There are so many build your own fort types of products as well as tents (which we have but are a pain to set up and take down each and every time in a small house.  We have resorted to using clamps (you can buy a pack at the dollar tree for...surprise 1$!) or just get the super strong ones at the hardware store and use fewer.  With a light weight sheet you can make a perfect fort with easy pick up.

  The kids have so much fun building forts indoors and out and for some fun reason doing things in forts is always more fun (for them and me!)

• Don't be afraid to let them paint!

My kids paint all the time.  I know some moms shy away from the mess, but I keep it contained outdoors or at the table and then of course...bath time after!  We use aprons and old food containers and tempera paints (which mix colors well for color blending lessons.   I prefer regular tempera paint to the washable kind which is just a bit watered down in color brilliance.  Acrylic paint is no good because it hardens when it dries and it inevitably will dry on a brush some time and ruin the brush for you.  We use construction paper most times, but when I have a spare slab of wood I like to let them make masterpieces.  I had my girls work for a week on one painting (trying out the layering process art discussed in these awesome blogs: (http://www.lilblueboo.com/category/painting-with-children) layered painting/process painting (http://www.mericherry.com/2014/04/08/evolving-canvas-process-art-painting-for-kids/).  It really turned out amazing I think and is on display in our bedroom.  I like that I can control the colors by giving them set colors for each layer.  It teaches kids that more work and effort=more quality and special-ness.  My oldest loved that she was making a "masterpiece" for her daddy, not just one of her daily paintings.

We have also experimented with face/body painting...which could open up a can of worms, but still worth it for the fun factor.  We just used non toxic tempera paint, but watercolors would be fine too.

That is a dancer on my face and a unicorn on her belly...in case you couldn't tell.

• Puppet Shows

I love the concept of puppets and the creative outcomes they promote, so I buy them secondhand whenever I find them.  We have an odd collection so far (rabbit, armadillo, walrus, pelican, deer...).  I find that when I perform a puppet show first it helps them to mimic and get the concept so they don't just fight the whole time over who gets to hide behind the screen and who gets to watch.  Plus, making my kids laugh is the best!  

Speaking of screen...my best find!  I found an old fabric lined shutter outside of my friend's neighbor's house.  They were remodeling and just going to throw them out, so I snagged one (no shame in dumpster diving).  I ripped out the staples and used Velcro instead, so the puppets can peak through the curtain. And that's all I did!  It still needs some securing chains, so that it doesn't fall over so easily, but as long as the sides are squared out it's perfect!  Of course you could just use a sheet over a chair back too, but this is Oh so fun and free. 

Keeping kids busy on the cheap is really not too complicated.  Some of these ideas serve as a mom-breaks while the kids are busy playing, but mostly playing with your kids is all it takes.  

The sillier the better!