If you are looking for ways to keep your kids occupied during a rainy, cold weekend without having to resort to technology, sponges, paint and other items around the house can be used to make simple DIY crafts for kids to enjoy making while beating boredom.
Edible Play Dough
Do you have little ones that prefer to eat Play-Dough instead of play with it? If so, this craft is a safe and easy alternative. The recipe is simple. Mix together:
- 1 cup dried milk powder
- ½ cup smooth peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
You will mix the ingredients until they have turned into a dough consistency. Add milk powder as needed if the dough has a sticky feel. Food coloring can also be added during this stage to give the mixture some bright colors. Your children will be able to play with the dough and then eat it without having to worry about any side effects.
Keep in mind that the dough does not have a long shelf life, and it should be thrown away after one use.
Edible Jewelry
Not only is this one of the simplest DIY for kids, it is also a fun and creative way to play with food. For this craft, take some shoestring licorice (not rope style licorice), and any type of food that has holes in it. Some choices are:
String the items along the licorice to create ‘charms’, and tie the two ends of the licorice together. Your children can create licorice bracelets and necklaces.
Maracas
For this craft, the only thing you will need are some paper plates, tape and dried beans. Give your child two paper plates and let them color the plates. Encourage them to get creative with their decorations.
Take one plate and fill it with a ¼ to a ½ cup of dried beans, and take the other plate and place it on top. Make sure the top plate is faced down. Tape the plates together, making sure all sides are completely sealed. The hollow area between the two plates will give the beans the space needed to jump around and create noise.
Sponge Stamping
This is another simple craft requiring only three items. Find as many clean sponges as you can, and let your child cut them into different shapes using child-friendly scissors. By using sponges that have a range of textures, the more unique and fun the designs will be.
Let your child dip the sponge pieces into paint and decorate a surface to create their own art. For an added layer of creativity, you can glue the sponge pieces on a paint roller.
Holiday Centerpiece
Let your child make the centerpiece for your holiday dinner table. Even if you want an elegant look, your child can make an easy craft using artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase and holiday themed items.
Allow your child to arrange the flowers and holiday items to their liking, and place the finished craft in the bowl or vase.
Rainy weekend days do not have to mean your child should be bored. Get their creative juices flowing with simple DIY crafts for kids.