Mom… I’m bored!

Fun at-home activities to keep your kids busy

by Megan Finley
Contributing writer

“Summer — that long anticipated stretch of lazy, lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility. It’s a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practice swim strokes, conquer trees, explore nooks and crannies, and make new friends.” — Darell Hammond
Summer is here, which means the kids are out of school for over two months. Every day cannot include an organized activity or costly outing. Here are three home activities that will keep the kids busy on those quiet summer days at home.

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk
Disposable cups
Water
Tempera paint, any colors
Plaster of Paris, dry powder
Silicon molds
For each color, you will need a separate cup.

Fill each cup with 3/4 cup water. Add 1/4 cup of paint. Add 1 cup Plaster of Paris. Mix well.
Pour the mixture into molds, and clean the edges with a paper towel. Allow the mixture to dry for 24 hours.
Carefully remove the mostly dried mixture from the molds. They will still be soft, so be gentle. Let them finish drying outside the molds for an additional 24 hours.
Send the kids outside to make art with their new chalk.
(Craft from www.WonderfulDIY.com)

Homemade Bubbles
6 cups water
Large container
1 cup dish soap
1 tablespoon glycerin or 1/4 cup of corn syrup
Bubble wand or straw

Measure water into a large container. Pour dish soap into the water, and slowly stir until the soap is mixed in. Try not to let foam or bubbles form while you stir.
Add glycerin or corn syrup to the mixture. Stir the solution until it is mixed together.
You can use the solution right away, but to make even better bubbles, put the lid on the container and let your super bubble solution sit for 24 hours.
If using Ultra brand dish soap, double the amount of glycerin or corn syrup.
Dip the bubble wand or straw into the mixture, slowly it pull out, wait a few seconds, then blow. Your own homemade bubbles!
(Craft from www.HomeTrainingTools.com)

Homemade Garden Wind Chime
Small terracotta pot
Acrylic paint, any colors
Assorted beads
Waterproof string
2 washers

Paint your pot and let it dry.
String your beads on however many strands of waterproof string you desire. Use long strands of varying lengths to add dimension to the wind chime. Make sure there is a knot at the bottom and top of each string. Leave some extra cord at the top.
Once the pot is dry, tie your bead strings securely to your first washer, leaving a few inches free at the top. Poke the strings through the top of the garden pot and tie them securely around the second washer.
Tie all the strings into a knot at the ends to form a loop to hang the wind chimes.
(Craft from www.SugarSpiceAndGlitter.com)