What to do with the kids

Load of old rubbish?

2012-01-28T15:33:00.000Z

Do you get fed up with the mountains of packaging, some of which cannot be recycled? Here are are a few ideas for things to make with it.

How about using a polystyrene pizza base to make, well, pizza! Here are a couple of slices of pepperoni made by my daughter.

Slice of pizza, anyone?

Cardboard boxes are always good to keep. Large ones can become cars or spaceships, smaller ones, such as cereal boxes, can be made into houses for toys or dolls, or beds for soft toys. We used some to make a robot, along with kitchen roll tubes and the end of a roll of gift wrap.

Pink robot

We used some tiny boxes to make an advent village at Christmas, complete with fake snow! It doesn't really matter what size or shape they are, as all the buildings can be different. We used white labels for the windows and doors.

Advent village

The Shredded paper and packaging chips you get with fragile items can also be used. How about shredded paper straw for your soft toy pet bed? Or in hay a farmyard picture? Packaging chips can be stuck onto paper too. The ones made from maize will stick with just water.

Our Christmas sweet wrappers came in handy making this picture. Coloured cellophane is a great collage material and kids love looking through the colours to make everything change colour. How about some blue cardboard glasses?

Sweets galore!

See what you can come up with :)

All craft activities are undertaken at your own risk, please supervise children adequately. Take particular care with small objects, heat and sharp items.

Kids craft gallery

2012-01-28T14:13:00.000Z

Dinner is served!

2012-01-26T11:26:00.002Z

My daughter first tried out pottery painting in a pottery painting cafe on holiday and loved it. We decided to buy some of our own pottery painting supplies so we could do some at home.

Firstly, we tried pottery paint on some cheap white plates. These are three plates she painted and we've put on the wall. Simply designs work best for kids, as you need a steady hand.

My daughter's masterpieces :)

We also purchased some pottery painting pens. These are easier for children to use as they are just like felt pens. We decided to create our own dinner service and some mugs.

My little one creates her own dinner service

I'm no artist, but I had a go too!

If you want to be able to use and wash your crockery, it can be baked in the oven so that the pen or paint doesn't come off. So far it has survived the dishwasher. I'm not sure it will stand up to the scratching of knives and forks, but if it does come off, you can always redesign!

I think this one worked better - keep it simple if you can't draw!

Paint and pens can be purchased from craft shops such as Baker Ross or Hobbycraft, as can the pottery to be painted, although I've found it easier to buy cheap white china from supermarkets, or cheap white tiles from DIY stores. The pens we bought also work on glass and we have decorated tumblers, glass jars and candle holders too. Use battery operated candles instead of tea lights for safety.

My daughter made a candle holder

See what you can come up with :)

All craft activities are undertaken at your own risk, please supervise children adequately. Take particular care with small objects, heat and sharp items.

Rags to riches!

2012-01-24T19:36:00.001Z

What do you do with old clothes? Give them to friends? Charity shop? Sometimes they seem a bit tatty for that, but instead of throwing them away, there are lots of things you can make with them.

We had a lot of old socks which were too small for my daughter, and many seemed to have lost their pair, so we made sock puppets out of them. Here are the first two, made with fabric pens, wool and googly eyes. You could also try sequins, buttons, and scraps of fabric. If they are going to be played with a lot, I'd suggest sewing things on, but if, like me, you are not great with a needle and thread, glue is fine.

'Bits and Bobs', our first two sock puppets

Sock puppet family

Another favourite for kids is dressing up. Girls love mummy's clothes and shoes. If, like me, you have a few things you can, no longer get into, perhaps you could relocate them to the dressing up box. Mummy's skirts can be taken in without much sewing talent, and drag on the floor creating a train, which little girls love. My daughter has a wedding dress made out of old net curtains, much cheaper than buying a dressing up dress and if it tears, no problem. Old sheets are also good for making dressing up outfits, and for making dens :)

Old T-shirts make great dresses for teddies when they've become too small. Girls love changing the clothes on dolls and teddies. You could decorate plain t-shirts with fabric pens or paint if you want teddy to look extra stylish. Try adding some sequins for extra sparkle.

Recently, we were after some new curtains and I collected a lot of free fabric samples from suppliers, via the Internet. I kept all of these and they have been used extensively for collage. You could also use them for making dolls clothes, if you can sew.

Boats on the sea

See what you can come up with :)

.

All craft activities are undertaken at your own risk, please supervise children adequately. Take particular care with small objects and sharp items.

Art rocks!

2012-01-24T11:49:00.005Z

Do you come home from the beach with a bucket full of stones and shells and not know what to do with them all? Here are some ideas.

Ordinary kids paints work well on stones, and glitter glue helps to jazz things up a bit (and is less messy than ordinary glitter!). Stones can also be covered with sequins or other bits and bobs, such as buttons, to make them more interesting. Add googly eyes to make faces or creatures. Here are a couple my daughter decorated.

Sparkly flower stone

Funny face stone

Do you remember making plate gardens as a child? These are still a great idea for kids, but how about making your own beach instead? It's a good idea to make this outside. Sand gets everywhere, doesn't it?

Beach in a tray!

Another good idea using small shells is an under the sea picture. My daughter made a wall hanging at her local play scheme using shells. You can use up all sorts of fabric and paper scraps, too.

Under the sea wall hanging

How about some temporary pictures? My little one collects gem stones and uses them for all sorts of things (counters for games, adding up, etc.) she also makes pictures out of them, which are obviously not stuck down. Great for making art over and over again! It is not necessary to have gem stones, you could use ordinary stones, painted different colours, or glass pebbles, add small twigs and leaves too, to make a nature picture. Here's a boat made by my daughter.

Stone sailing boat

See what you can come up with :)

All craft activities are undertaken at your own risk, please supervise children adequately. Take particular care with small objects and sharp items.

Cardboard tube creations!

2012-01-24T11:24:00.000Z

We all end up with loads of loo roll tubes, kitchen paper tubes and packaging tubes. Instead of chucking them in the recycling, make them into some arty creations!

My daughter and I made this rocket for bonfire night by painting the tube and sticking a cone of paper on top and tissue paper strips out of the bottom.

Firework for bonfire night

How about a pair of binoculars made out of two toilet roll tubes stuck together? Great for spotting wild animals on a safari in the garden! Or a telescope, made out of a kitchen paper tube, to spot stars with?

Recently, my daughter has gone Rapunzel mad and made a tower for her Rapunzel doll.

My personal favourite is our sunflower, made out of a strong packaging tube. The face is a painted paper plate covered in seeds. The tube is secured into the bucket by pebbles and the 'soil' is made from tissue paper. My daughter named the flower Cissy and gave her eyes and a bow!

Cissy the sunflower!

See what you can come up with :)

All craft activities are undertaken at your own risk, please supervise children adequately. Take particular care with small objects and sharp items.

2012-01-24T10:13:00.002Z

Here's an easy recipe to try that it's hard not to like :)

Chocolate chip muffins

Ingredients
250g plain flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
85g caster sugar
1 egg
240ml milk
90ml vegetable oil
85g chocolate chips or smashed chocolate
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Method
1 Preheat oven to 190C, gas mark 5-6. Place muffin cases in muffin tin. (This should be a deep muffin tin, not a fairy cake tin.)
2 In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cinnamon.
3 In a measuring jug, measure the milk and oil. Add the egg and beat everything together with a fork.
4 Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry mix and stir in. The batter should be lumpy, but no dry flour should be visible.
5 Stir in the chocolate.
6 Spoon into the cases and bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops are light brown and spring back when pushed.
7 Cool on a wire rack.
8 Eat :)

A great website for recipes is http://allrecipes.co.uk. For very simple recipes, try http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/i-can-cook/makes.

Cookery activities are undertaken at your own risk. What to do with the kids has no affiliation with any of the websites above and takes no responsibility for any content on them or any sites linked to them. Not all content on the above sites has been tried by What to do with the kids.

Free or very cheap craft ideas

2012-01-23T18:43:00.004Z

Craft resources can be expensive, particularly if they are ready-to-make kits. With a bit of imagination, you can make some fantastic things with your kids from items found around the house or things you might be about to throw out. Also try supermarkets or bargain shops such as Wilkinsons, The Works, Dunelm Mill or pound shops for cheaper resources.

Enjoy :)

collect stones from the garden, or shells from the beach and paint or decorate them
use the circles of paper from the hole punch to make pictures
use bubble wrap for printing with paint
make a space ship/house/den from cardboard boxes
use old photo mounts to frame artwork
make pictures from dried seeds from supermarket peppers, melons, etc., or use seeds from the garden
use kitchen foil to make 'money' by rubbing over coins and then cutting them out
make a picture out of only one shape of leftovers, e.g., triangles of card
get free paint charts from DIY stores and cut up to make mosaics or collage
make a photo montage on a theme using old catalogues or junk mail
make robots out of cereal boxes and loo rolls, paint or cover with foil or gift wrap

grow your own pumpkin and use at Hallowe'en instead of buying one as they are expensive to buy
cut up free fabric swatches from curtain manufacturers or free wallpaper and border samples from DIY stores and make a collage
make a 'plate garden' with items from outside
decorate a jam jar to make a vase
use free fabric swatches to make doll clothes or doll blankets

take sunflower seeds out of the rabbit food and plant them!
make sporting medals from cardboard circles covered in kitchen foil

make a house for dolls from large cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, etc. Make your own dolls to go in it out of pegs
use old egg shells to grow cress 'egg heads'

make a patchwork 'rug' from free carpet sample squares, use for your dolls!

potato printing, hand printing, foot printing - preferably outside!
use paper from the shredder to make pictures
make a rabbit hutch from cardboard boxes, use shredded paper for 'straw' and make food from playdough or add a real carrot, add soft toy rabbit - low maintenance pet!
put washing up liquid in paint and blow with a straw, make bubble pictures
use kitchen roll tubes or loo roll tubes to make binoculars, telescope, rocket or lighthouse

cut up paper scraps to make mosaic tiles
use odd or old socks or mittens to make puppets

use old make-up to make pictures
make shakers from kitchen rolls or bottles filled with lentils or seeds
use pencil sharpenings to make pictures
make people out of lolly sticks or wooden spoons

make a puppet theatre using cardboard boxes or do a show from behind the sofa!
make fans out of serviettes
draw faces on party balloons after the party
print out colouring sheets from internet on the back of printouts rather than buying colouring books
break up old bead necklaces to make new combinations
pick flowers and make a flower arrangement in a jam jar
make paper chains or bookmarks from leftover strips of paper
use cocktail umbrellas from parties as dolly parasols
use the back of computer printouts for drawing paper
buy cheap white tiles from DIY stores or cheap white china from discount shops for pottery painting
buy paper plates from discount shops or supermarkets and make pictures/faces

draw around pastry cutter shapes and colour in
make leaf and bark rubbings with crayons, cut out and make a tree picture
make your own playdough or salt dough
get your child to make the dinner!
keep old food packets and use in a 'shop'
use doilies to make wedding dress pictures or angels
snip up scraps of white paper to make snowflakes
make a space age city from foil food containers or wrap boxes in kitchen foil
cut up old Christmas cards to make new ones and present tags
buy cheap glass tumblers from supermarkets or discount shops for glass painting
use left over baby nappies, clothes, blankets, etc. for baby dolls or teddies, they are often cheaper than the toy versions
cut barcodes off food boxes and make a futuristic collage
use packaging 'chips' to make a collage
make a family tree by drawing a tree and sticking on photos
use foil or cellophone sweet wrappers to make a collage

make pictures from twigs, leaves and dried flower or use old pot pourri
unravel an old jumper or scarf to make curly hair on a picture
make an assault course for dolls from stones, twigs, etc.
create pasta tube necklaces
make dressing up clothes from mummy's clothes she can no longer get into!
let your child do your hair or make-up (hide the scissors!)
create chalk pictures on the patio
make doll handbags, jewellery and hairbands from pipe cleaners
make cotton wool snow pictures
paint a canvas - cheap canvases are available from discount shops
make 'snails' out of sea shells
make animals out of pine cones
make spiders out of pipe cleaners
paint over doilies to make positive/negative pictures
make Christmas baubles and snowflakes from pipe cleaners
make a picture from old buttons
make a collage from free wallpaper samples
make plaits out of left over wool or string, attach to a hair band to create long hair
use wrapping paper offcuts or used wrapping paper for collage
make dressing up clothes from old sheets or curtains, net curtains make a good wedding dress

What to do with the kids has no affiliation with any of the retailers listed above. All craft activities are undertaken at your own risk, please supervise children adequately. Take particular care with small objects, heat and sharp items. Not all ideas have been tested by What to do with the kids.

What's on/Where to go

2012-01-23T18:39:00.001Z

The following websites list activities, events and attractions and provide details of individual websites to go to. Don't forget to check for money off vouchers before you go!

www.timeout.com
www.list.co.uk
www.all4kidsuk.com
www.wherecanwego.com
www.kidsdaysout.co.uk

www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk
www.places-to-go.org
www.childrensleisure.co.uk
www.childfriendly.co.uk
www.thebestof.co.uk

www.daysoutuk.com
www.britainsfinest.co.uk
www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/England/england.htm
www.kidsgofree.com
www.letsgowiththechildren.co.uk

www.funfamilydaysout.com
www.familydayoutuk.co.uk
www.ideasforthekids.co.uk
www.whattodowiththekids.co.uk
www.fredsdaysout.co.uk

www.kidsactivitydays.com
http://toddlersdayout.co.uk
www.familiesonline.co.uk
www.netmums.com
www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk
www.english-heritage.org.uk
www.heritagebritain.com
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
www.forestry.gov.uk

www.whatsonstage.com
www.discounttheatre.com
www.comparetheatretickets.com
www.militaryairshows.co.uk/listing.htm
www.classicshowsuk.co.uk

Money off
www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-days-out
www.moneysupermarket.com/vouchers/supercategory/family-days-out/1/1/
www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/days-out-vouchers

All web links correct at time of listing. What to do with the kids has no affiliation with any of the sites above or the places, events or activities listed on those sites or any subsequent sites linked to them. All activities are entered into at your own risk. Please supervise children adequately. Not all activities, events or places have been tried by What to do with the kids.

Online fun and resources

2012-01-23T18:21:00.004Z

Here are some websites for your kids to try. Some are very extensive, such as the bbc offerings, offering both fun and education, others simple and just do one thing, such as drawing patterns. There are many websites linked to products such as Barbie which adults may find rather annoying (turn the sound down!). I recommend Activity village for colouring pages and craft ideas, there lots of things to keep kids amused here. Uptoten is the best activity website I've found for under tens with some educational value, most of the site is free, a premium pay version is available but I have never needed to use this as there is so much on the free part of the site.

If you're after reading materials, Oxford Owl and We give books will provide you with some free e-books. Other sites offer learning resources to back up lessons from school, such as ichild.

Don't forget about Internet safety. Here are some sites that will help you stay web safe.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bitesize

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/icancook/makes

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/alphablocks

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/funwithphonics

www.scholastic.com/parents/play

www.familylearning.org.uk

www.tes.co.uk/primary-teaching-resources

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJx1NSineE

www.ichild.co.uk/5-7_years

www.oxfordowl.co.uk

www.wegivebooks.org

http://www.uptoten.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc

http://www.disney.co.uk

http://www.barbie.com

http://www.rhgweb.co.uk/childrens/princesspoppy

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk

http://www.hitentertainment.com/portal/us/games.asp

http://www.shaunthesheep.com

http://www.wallaceandgromit.com
http://www.tractortom.co.uk

http://www.mistermaker.com

http://www.zefrank.com/flowers

http://www.permadi.com/java/spaint/spaint.html

https://andrew.thenewhive.com/drawonme
http://www.drawastickman.com
http://open.adaptedstudio.com/html5/many-lines/index.html
http://funkylunch.com/gallery.htm

http://www.noradsanta.org

www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/topics/safety-and-privacy/internet-safety-for-kids

www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/help/web/staysafe

www.thinkuknow.co.uk

All web links correct at time of listing. What to do with the kids has no affiliation with any of the sites above and takes no responsibility for any content on them or any sites linked to them. Not all content on the above sites has been tried by What to do with the kids. Please observe safe web practice.