Here are some kidlet fun/craft ideas to hopefully help you all make it through those "I have nothing to do" days!
1. PAPER PLATE PUPPETS: Staple or tape two plates together around the rims leaving a gap large enough to insert hand. Decorate with paints, markers, wool, etc.!
2. DOLL'S HOUSE: Stick some larger cardboard boxes (at least 3 is best) about the same sizes together with glue so that all the open ends are facing the same way. Paint the outside of the boxes with paint and when dry draw on or cut and paste windows and doors, etc. Use another piece of cardboard folded in half as roof. Now you can have fun decorating with markers paints construction paper old wallpaper - whatever you want! BOYS - can even make a Castle with same idea!
3. DOLL FURNITURE: TABLE: small circle of cardboard stuck to top of cork or old thread spool, CHAIRS: cover corks or spools with material, SOFAS DRESSERS ETC: can be made from tiny boxes, BEDS: can be be made from small boxes covered with material, FRIDGE, STOVE, TV: can be made with small boxes too painted and decorated, PICTURES TO HANG: can be made from magazine pictures cut out and glued to small squares of cardboard, tape string to back to hang, MIRRORS: can be made by covering small piece of cardborad with aluminum foil LAMPS: can be made from corks or spools with paper shades on top - or hung from ceiling.
4. FISHING GAME: Cut out paper fish and stick a paper clip where their mouths are. Tie a string to a stick and put a magnet on the end. Kidlets can fish for the most or can have points on them to keep score or messages or matching pictures to try to find a match.
5. YOUR OWN PUZZLE: You can use pictures from a magazine or old poster or one you have drawn yourself - glue the picture onto cardboard (thin enough to cut easy) Put something heavy on top while drying to keep from curling. When dry - draw puzzle shape on the back and cut out! They can also do this with a special message for a birthday party etc. (Cheaper and more personal then a Hallmark!!LOL!!(no offense Hallmark - I love your cards!!)
6. MOBILES: 1) You can cut out a cardboard circle - decorate both sides (fun to be opposites - eg, happy face/sad face, rainbow/lightening streak, etc) put hole at top and put string through to hang. 2) You can cut out small shapes with thin cardboard and cover with foil thread the circles together with a needle three or four 'sets'. Thread a thin string through a straw and tie the ends together. Tie the 'set' of foiled shapes to the straw.
7. CHILD'S OWN SHINY TOPIARY: Crunch some newspaper into a ball and put a stick (popsicle or larger) into center - hold together with tape. Cover the ball in aluminum foil. As base use yougurt cup covered in foil also or painted. Fill it with sand or plaster and push the stick in. You can cut out shapes or flowers from magazines to glue on or paint on.
8. TOTEM POLE: using all different sizes of tin cans - preferrably the ones that have the plastic tops. cover the cans in paper and decorate or paint over - for noses wings ears beaks etc you can use whatever comes to mind or just construction paper.
9. TURTLE and HARE RACE: from thin cardboard cut out a turtle and a bunny shape - same size - decorate with crayons or markers or pencil crayons. Put a hole on each end - front and back and thread a long string through. tie one end of the string to a table leg etc. With the animal at your end of the string hold the string slightly tight and 'twang'(lol for lack of a better word!) the string to mave the animal along the string! See who makes it to the end first!!
10. ROCKS ARE EVERYWHERE!!! Get the kidlets on your next walk together to look for nice smooth rocks! Any size that's okay with Mom!! They can paint them with scenes or to look like animals, etc. Much larger ones can be painted as their own door stop, smaller as personalized paper weights for the whole family!! Or just simply collectibles!!
WELL!! Hope you found at least one idea to try out!