Homemade Kids Workout DVD

Homemade Kids Workout DVD

Ages: 4- 8+ years

Time to complete: 40 minutes Get your kids moving by letting them create their own workout DVD!
What you need: video camera , DVD player , TV
Instructions:This activity works best if your child has ever seen a workout video or television program. Help your child practice various exercises. Then teach him or her to narrate each routine. Next, record your child's workout show (pausing as necessary to let your child figure out the next exercise). Finally, watch the DVD, working out as a family along with your child, the exercise instructor!
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2879227456/in/photostream/

Guessing Game

Kleenex Box Guessing Game

Ages: 3- 8+ years

Time to complete: 3-8 minutes This game allows children to use their sense of touch and build their descriptive vocabulary
What you need: empty facial tissue box , various objects of different shapes that will fit into the tissue box (such as a toy car , sunglasses , a sock , a comb , a spoon , a cotton ball , a coin , foam bath letters)
Instructions:Without your child watching, put an object into an empty tissue box. Have your child put his or her hand into the box and, without looking, guess what the object is. Encourage your child to describe the way the object feels using words like soft, hard, bumpy, smooth, squishy. etc. For an older child try putting foam bath letters or real coins into the box for an added challenge.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2860540490/

Tear & Glue Canister

Tear and Glue Canister

Ages: 2- 6 years

Time to complete: 30 minutes Your child will be proud to keep her toys in this hand-decorated container
What you need: oatmeal can or other clean container , glue , water , small bowl , paint brush , colored paper or tissue paper
Instructions:Have your child tear colored paper into small pieces. Mix glue with water in a small bowl and have your child paint the glue onto the canister. Cover the canister with overlapping pieces of paper and paint another coat of glue on top. Allow the glue to dry and use the canister to store toys or markers.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2854456462/

Snow Flour Painting

Snow Flour Painting

Ages: 3- 5 years

Time to complete: 20 minutes Children enjoy the process of making it ?snow? on their picture as much as they like the finished product.
What you need: newspaper (to protect your work surface and catch excess flour) , blue construction paper , glue , water , small bowl , paint brush , flour , sifter or small strainer , decorations (pipe cleaners , twigs , beads , raisins , or other small objects)
Instructions:Gather your supplies. Put a piece of newspaper on your work surface. Mix white glue with water (about 50/50) in a small bowl. Have your child paint a winter scene with a snowman on the construction paper with the glue mixture. Give your child the strainer or sifter and have him or her hold it over the painting. Pour some flour into the strainer and have your child shake it over the painting to make it snow. Help your child pick up the picture and shake the excess flour onto the newspaper. Use decorations and glue to add arms and a face to the snowman. Allow the picture to dry before shaking it one more time.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/sets/72157607273097533/

Lacing Cards

Homemade Lacing Cards
Ages: 2- 5 years
Time to complete: 35 minutes

No need to buy lacing cards when you can easily make these at home. Your preschooler will practice fine motor skills while doing this quiet activity.
What you need: sturdy cardboard , long shoelaces or yarn (with tape or glue on the ends to discourage unraveling) , magazine pictures , hole punch , scissors
Instructions:To make a lacing card, start by finding a fairly large picture in a magazine of something that you think would interest your child. Glue this picture to a piece of cardboard. Cut the cardboard out around the edges of the picture. Punch holes around the edge of the picture (about an inch apart). Tie a shoe lace or piece of yarn to one of the holes. Show your child how to weave the lace back and forth through the holes.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2877920804/in/photostream/

Play dough Activity

Make Your own! Kids can help!

(from "Feed Me I'm Yours" By Vicki Lansky

No-Cook Playdough:

1 cup white flour 1 tsp alum

1/2 cup salt food coloring

2 Tbls vegetable oil 1/2 cup water

Mix first four ingredients. Add food coloring to the water. Gradually add small amounts of water until mixture attains the consistency of bread dough. You may not use the entire 1/2 cup (I did and it was a little too wet, but just barely less than 1/2 cup would probably be better). You can make different colors by mixing them in the water. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag. It lasts a long time.

Stove-Top Playdough:

1 cup whi9te flour 1 cup water

1/4 cup salt 2 tsp vegetable food coloring

2 Tblsp cream of tartar 1 Tblsp oil

Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a medium pot. Add water, food coloring, and oil. Cook and stir over medium heat 3-5 mins. Mixture will look like a globby mess and you'll be sure it's not turning out, but it will. When it forms a ball in the center of the pot, turn our and knead on a lightly floured surface. Store in an air-tight container or plastic bag. Edible but not very tasty.

Peanut Butter Playdough:

18 oz. peanut butter nonfat dry milk

6 Tblsp (or milk plus flour to the

cocoa or carob (optional) right consistency)

Mix. After shaping, decorate (try raisins) and eat!

Another edible playdough can be made from one can of frosting, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter.

Paper Snowflakes Activity

Instructions:This is a simple and quick craft and very effective and long-lasting. You can make a huge stock of these in no time and they will last for ever! You can hang them on the Christmas tree as ornaments, tie them into garlands or mobiles. Lacy white paper doilies Scissors Clear contact paper (Silver or white thread) (Paper punch) (Silver or white glitter, or tiny pearlescent stars) Instructions The size and shape of your snowflakes will depend on your paper doilies. Aim to cut out parts of the doily to create snowflakes varying in size from about 1inch to 3 inches in diameter. Use contact paper, arrange the snowflakes on the sticky side of one piece as above, decorate with glitter if required, then carefully lay a second piece of contact paper over the top. If you are going to use the snowflakes as window decorations, all you have to do now is cut around them and attach them to the window. If you would like to use them as hanging decorations, punch a small hole with a hole punch and thread each snowflake with a short length of silver or white thread. (From their website)

Little Hands Wreath

Instructions:Make an adorable wreath from your child's handprints. Supplies needed: green construction paper A piece of red construction paper or ribbon Pencil Scissors Glue Optional: Glitter or glitter glue Trace the child's hand on a piece of green construction paper. Cut out the hand print. Make about 10 paper hands for each wreath. Glue the hand prints together in a wreath shape, with the wrists overlapping a little bit. Glue on a red ribbon bow (or make one from red construction paper). Optional: Decorate your wreath with glitter or glitter glue. (From Enchanted Learning Website)

Ice Cube Racers

Instructions:Ice Cube Racers Use food coloring to make different colors of water. Place the colored water into ice cube trays. Set up an ice cube race track by placing a smooth board against a chair diagonally. Set out the ice cubes. Let the children choose their ice cube, put it at the top of the race track and watch it race down to the bottom. Place newspaper at the bottom, with a large tray to catch the ice, or it is possible to do this outside, using a board against a bench. The colored ice cubes would especially show up in the white snow! This is a great activity to do with toddlers.

Christmas Tree Garland

Instructions:What you will need: *Yarn *Fruit Loops Cereal *Masking tape Cut a length of yarn as long as you would like your garland. Put tape around one end of the yarn to make a "needle". For little ones it is easiest to tape the other end of the yarn to the table. Have the children lace the fruit loops onto the yarn. When the yarn strand is full tie it off at both ends. Hang the garland on your Christmas tree. **As a bonus: Once Christmas is over you can take the garland outside and hang it on the trees because the birds will eat the cereal. After the cereal is eaten you can go out and cut the yarn into small pieces and hang it back on the tree. The birds will be able to use it for their nests.

Jingle Bell Project

Instructions:What you will need: *paper cup *aluminum foil *Small Jingle Bell *String or Ribbon Very Simple Project! Wrap a paper cup in aluminum foil. Poke a small hole in the top of the cup and tie a jingle bell inside the cup with either string or ribbon. Can be used as simple decoration or as an ornament.

Indoor Fishing...

Instructions:Young kids will love catching fish in the comfort of your home! This fun activity requires: plastic fish bowl or small tank sponges fish net fish bath toys that squirt towels!! Cut the sponges into fish shapes. Fill the bowl or tank with water and put the sponges and toys in. Kids will see some items sink and some float! Give them the net and encourage them to catch the fish. Squeezing out the sponges and squirters adds to the fun! Make sure you keep towels close by because this can get messy!! Close supervision is required when playing with water.

Flour Drawing

Instructions:Materials: Cookie Sheet Flour Sprinkle surface of the cookie sheet with flour and then show your child how to draw letters, faces and words in it with his fingers. You can also have him "follow the leader" by having him draw a repeat shape of whatever you make.

Bearhunt

Instructions:A great way to bring the drama of Helen Oxenbury's "We're Going on a Bearhunt" to life is to stage a simple play with your children after finishing the book. Examine each of Michael Rosen's wonderful illustrations as you read, then color pictures of each scene - the swishy grass, the squishy mud, the wooshing river - and tape them around a room, leaving room between each for "travelling." Each page can be reenacted at the appropriate location, having children make the accompaning sound from the book. When you get to your last picture (an appropriately dark cave or a bear!), scream and run around the room in reverse order, swishing at last through the grass and running to bed (or the couch) and hunkering down. Great way to enjoy a wonderful book and release some energy at the same time!

Bowling for Snowmen!

Instructions:There's no snow required for this friendly snowman. Use as a decoration or make a whole snow family, set them up and play bowling with a soft ball. Age Ages 5 and up (younger if children have help cutting) This project is rated EASY to do. What You Need 16 oz. bottle with label removed (water bottles work well) White tissues or cotton balls Pencil Black, orange and green felt pieces Red sock Green and red rick-rack or other narrow sewing trim Green pom-pom Scissors White craft glue What You Do Use the pencil to stuff the soda bottle with white tissue. Cut a one by 12-inch strip of green felt for the scarf. Cut fringe on the ends and trim with rick-rack or other narrow sewing trim. Tie the scarf around the middle of the bottle. Cut a face for the snowman from the orange and black felt pieces. Glue the face to the side of the bottle above the scarf. Cut the toe from the old sock approximately four inches from the toe to make a hat for the snowman. Roll the cut end of the sock up twice to form a brim for the hat. Glue rick-rack around the brim. Slip the hat on the snowman over the top of the bottle. Glue the pom-pom to the top of the hat.

Winter Treasure Hunt

Ages: 3-8
Instructions:Create a fun treasure hunt for the winter. Make a list of things for your child to find outdoors. Here are just a few ideas: Deer Fallen leaves Pine cones Bark A sled Other children Snow Squirrels Additionally, you can make your own treasure hunt with a treasure box to find at the end. Put in it: Packet of hot cocca marshmallows A fun book Crayons A coloring book Give them hints on where to find the treasure, and help them find it. It will be very rewarding treat at the end of their journey. Snuggling up together with their prize can be another fun and warm activity for after your hunt.

Pom Pom Necklace

Ages: 4- 8 years
In: Arts & Crafts
Time to complete: 40 minutes Dress up for the Holidays with this colorful soft pompom necklace and bracelet.

What you need: Colored pompoms (multi-colored package) , dull embroidery needle , elastic thread , and scissors.
Instructions:Cut a 25" piece of thin elastic thread. Knot one end so the pompoms won't slip off. String pompoms on elastic thread with an embroidery needle -- younger children may need help. Add as many pompoms to create desired length of the necklace. Knot both ends of elastic several times to secure. A Bracelet can be made from a 12" piece of elastic thread. A bag of 100 pompoms will make a necklace and a bracelet.

Balloon Play

Balloon Play
Ages: 1-8
Instructions:My girls like most kids love balloons. I blow up about 20 of them put on music and we kick and dance our hearts out. They love it and we all get a work out!

Rhythm Dancing

Rhythm Dancer

Ages: 1- 5 years

Instructions:learning how to go fast, and slow and how to stop and go, this activity requires a radio with a volume button and assorted songs..first we say go..and start the music. Encourage child to listen to the rhythm if it is fast move real fast...if it slows move real slow with embellished slow motion movement...then randomly yell stop and turn off music..continue doing this and mix it up with all different music, foreign language songs make great music for this game and kids love it

Pudding Paints

Pudding Paint

Ages: 1- 5 years

Instructions:This is a fun texture & taste toddler activity. It's great with very young children because you don't have to worry about them eating it or putting it in their mouth. They have a ball being able to eat and paint at the same time. Materials: Instant pudding, food coloring, small containers for pudding, long sheet of bulletin board paper or heavy craft paper, soap and water. Description: Prepare pudding and tape paper to a table. Parents can pre mix food coloring with the pudding or let the children do it. Give each child their own container of pudding, then let them use their fingers to do the rest. Talk about how it feels between their fingers, about the taste, and the smell.