Summer projects?

kimbaby · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 01:29 PM

anyone have any ideas on what kind of summer projects to do with the kids...My kids are getting stir crazy, we did the mini vacation,any fun creative ideas to do with them?

razz116 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 08:15 PM

How old are your boys?

Do you live near water? Do they like to fish? When I worked at a summer camp, the boys would love to "make" fishing poles out of strings and sticks and go fishing with them. I don't know if they ever caught anything, but they sure got a big kick out of it.

razz116 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 08:19 PM

I guess another idea is to go berry picking and then make jam or some kind of fun treat with them. Sorry...my only boy is 2 months old and I just don't have that much experience with them. If I think of any others, I'll post them, though!

#4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 01:24 PM

Here are some fun summer projects with photos and directions.

- A simple lei made out of paper, yarn, and drinking straws
- A sailboat that can even be made by toddlers
- A fun handprint sunshine
- A little hula dancer made out of a clothespin

Also some summer-themed coloring pages from the same place:
- Sailboat
- Mermaid
- Tropical Fish
- Sunshine
- Ice Cream

kimbaby · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006, 06:32 AM

thanks for sharing

will check out the links...

itsbelong · #6 (**permalink**) 07-31-2006, 10:20 AM

I have no idea where I found these but have fun with them. And if you do try them please post how the craft went!

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GLURP
This super easy recipe requires only that the kids mix 1 par constarch with 1 part water. It makes a slimy mess that kept two six-year-old boys occupied for several hours. To change the texture, add more cornstarch. A ratio of 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water will turn into a solid-looking mass that reveals itself as liquid when you touch it.

GOOEY-GAK
Mix 1 cup white glue with 3/4 cup water. Add coloring if desired. In a seperate bowl, mix 1/3 cup warm water and 1/2 tsp. borax. Slowely pour borax mix into glue mix. Watch it congeal for a few minutes, then kned. This mixture i s stretchy and squishy but firm. By changing the proprtions of the borax mix, you can make flubber. This concoction is more jelly-like than the Gooey Gak. Mix 1/2 cup water and 2 tsp. borax. Add to the glue and water mixture and watch it turn into glob.

PLAY PUTTY
This is my 6-year old's favorite gooey recipe. Begin by mixing a ratio of 2 parts white glue to 1 part starch. The mixture will start out stringy and slimey, then become an oozing slime. Continue adding starch until the texture is firm. You may need to add up to equal parts glue and starch. As you add starch, work it with your fingers to make it smooth. Let it sit several hours or overnight, and it will bounce and pick up comic pictures.

FACE PAINT
This face paint is easy,cheap and, best of all, washable. Mix 1/2 tsp. powdered tampera paint and 1 1/2 tsp. mild liquid dishwashing soap into 1/4 cup baby lotion. Store in air-tight container. Apply with paintbrush or cotton-tipped swabs.

KIDS' EASEL PAINT
This paint recipe is the best; it dries quickly to cut down on drips and washes out of clothes. Mix powdered tempera paint with water to make 1 cup liquid paint. Add and mix 1/4 cup liquid starch and 2-3 tbl.liquid dishwashing soap. Dilute with water, if needed. store in air-tight container.

WASHABLE FINGER PAINT
In large cookpot, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 cup cold water. stir with a whisk until smooth. Add 3 additional cups cold water. Cook over medium heat, stirring,until mixture is thick and bubly. Reduce heat and simmer,still stirring, for 1 more minute. Divide into 3 heat resistant containers. Add 1 tbl. liquid dishwashing soap to each container and color with food coloring or powdered tempera paint. Cool before using.

NO TEARS BUBBLES
Kids love to blow bubbles, but not when the bubbles pop in their faces and sting their eyes. Try making homemade bubbles with 1/4 cup no-tears baby shampoo, 3/4 cup water, and 3 tbl. light corn syrup. The bubble blowers will be all smiles.

HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH
I've tried many homemade play dough recipes and this is my favorite. It's smooth, not grainy, and very easy to work. It also keeps well. In a large cookpot, combine 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tsp. cream of tartar, 1 tbl. vegetable oil, and food coloring. Heat, stirring, antil a ball forms. Remove and cool, then kneed the dough till it is sooth and stretchy. Store in airtight container or plastic bag.

COFFEE DOUGH
This dough looks like a rock when it is dry. It is great for making "fossils". Just make impressions in the dough with leaves, shells, etc. Mix 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 cups used coffee grounds, 1 1/2 cup salt, and 1 cup sand. Gradually stir in water just until the mixture holds together. After working with the dough, allow up to a week for the dough to air dry.

SAND DOUGH
Your kids can make sand castles to kee, even when they're not at the beach. In a large cookpot, mix 4 cups sand, 2 cups cornstarch, and 4 tsp. cream of tartar. Stir in 3 cups o hot water. Cook over mediu heat, stirring constantly until water is absorbed and ixture is too stiff to stir. Cook until it can be handled. Store in an air-tight container. For best resuls, use oil-coated sand molds or sculpt with hands.

CLEAN MUD
The next time your toddler unwinds a roll of toilet paper or drops it in the sink, put her to work making this mud. Melt a bar of ivory sopa in hot water or dissolve a cup of ivory soap powder in hot water. Pour into a large plastic tub. Tear up toilet paper and add until the mixtureis squishy and thick. Good clean fun!

EDIBLE DOUGH
Make this doughfor snack-time fun. Mix equal amounts of creamy peanut butter and marshmallow cream. Roll and shape on waxed paper. Roll in graham cracker crumbs if disired.