Only a few weeks into the season of cold weather and shorter days and your children are singing the boredom blues. Don’t rush out to buy more toys. Instead, why not take a good look at what you already have in your house? That old adage comes to mind: ‘One person’s junk is another person’s treasure.’ Start with one of these easy suggestions and let your creativity grow from there.
1. Before you toss out recyclables, take a second look and see how they might find new life in your children’s craft bin! A couple of months ago, I put together a craft bin using a large plastic tub and an assortment of scraps and recyclables that were lying around the house. Think tissue paper, cardboard scraps, used gift bags, greeting cards, postcards, old calendars, popsicle sticks, tissue boxes, yogurt containers, cardboard rolls. Place the bin in an accessible spot for your children. Add scissors, glue, markers, and glitter and let them spend time constructing. My children spent time creating a patchwork quilt from an old Dora calendar, a parking garage from an old cardboard box and dollhouse furniture from discarded bottle lids.
2. Along the same lines, don’t be so quick to throw out those cardboard boxes. You know the kind that deliveries come in, or better yet the kind that large appliances and computers are shipped in. All that is required is minimal parental supervision (for cutting windows and doors), some paint, masking tape, markers, blankets and whatever else little minds might want to add to their project. Creations might include a castle, a car, bookshelves or a clubhouse. If your children become engaged in creating with cardboard boxes and want to extend their designs, look no further than Mr. McGroovy’s Box Rivets, which serve as fasteners and assist in the creation of more elaborate designs such as pyramids, rocket ships, princess carriages and fire engines. For more information, visit www.mrmcgroovys.com.
3. It was said that the digital age would lead to a paperless society; however, it appears that we have more paper to deal with than ever! Recycle those unwanted faxes and botched printing jobs into something a little more endearing. There are a variety of paper craft projects that will suit all ages and interests: paper dolls, paper jewelry, paper animals, paper costumes - the list goes on. Check out these great books that will help get your scissors pointed in the right direction: the Little Hands Big Fun Craft Book, Creative fun for 2- to 6-year-olds (Judy Press & Loretta Trezzo Braren); The Jumbo Book of Paper Crafts (Amanda Lewis & Jane Kurisu); and The Usborne Book of Papercraft (Alastair Smith).
4. Children love to play with sand and water, so take the plunge and set up variations of sand and water tables in your kitchen. Fill a bin with either sand or water; you might want to use one with a lid for the sand for easy storage. Add boats, trucks, containers, utensils, funnels, etc. Not ready for sand in your house? Then follow Fara Remtulla’s suggestion. Fara keeps a container of rice for her son to use as pretend sand for his dump trucks. “This way, my son gets to fill and empty his trucks, and at the end of play, the rice is big enough that he is able to help with clean up!” says Remtulla, mother of a three-year-old, who loves trucks.
5. What better way to multitask than to have your children work with you in the kitchen! Making meals or treats together can be a fun way to spend the afternoon; plus what could be better than a delicious meal or a batch of cupcakes for some happy kids. Adapt family favorites by assigning particular tasks to children based on age and ability. Young children can spin salad greens, cut bananas or stir sauces and batters. Older kids can grate cheese, measure dry and wet ingredients or use the microwave. If you are looking for some inspiration in the kitchen, try books such as, Salad People and More Real Recipes, or Pretend Soup, by Mollie Katzen. Or if you have older children, Kitchen for Kids: 100 Amazing Recipes Your Children Can Really Make by Jennifer Low, is a great book to use as the only appliance necessary is the oven - meaning that your children can easily crank out recipes by themselves.
Once you get the hang of converting what is already in your home into fun, you might even find time to put up your feet and enjoy a cup of coffee in lieu of a tiresome shopping trip!
Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D., is a writer and education researcher who specializes in hearing loss and the impact it has on children and families. As a former Montessori teacher, she believes that children can create their own magic when provided with the right materials.
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