Fun ideas to keep you sane and the kids busy…

Fun ideas to keep you sane and the kids busy.
If your summer has been a wash out and you’re counting down the days until the kids have to go back to school, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But until that time comes, here are a few ideas on how to keep the kids happy and you sane.

1. Choose some old photos you don’t mind parting with. The funnier the better. Get the kids to stick them onto thin card, and then laminate them. Chop them up into puzzle like pieces. The kids seem to like that bit as it seems like a naughty thing to do. Then let them have hours of fun piecing together the puzzle. I usually try and get at least one picture of each member of the family, mixed in with a few family pets. They never tire of making up my body with a dog head and chicken legs!
2. Write down on a piece of paper all the jobs that the kids can help you with. For example, tidying up their room, matching up odd pairs of shoes, sweeping etc. Then underneath each task add a money incentive 10p up to 50p (Depending how generous you’re feeling). Fold the tasks and add them into a big bowl. Let each child select a job and work their way through each job. It’s a good way for them to earn some pocket money and for you to get odd jobs done.
3. Collect some old magazines and let the kids go through them cutting out anything they find interesting. You can make a collage of colour (for example all things blue) or my sons favourite- cutting out girls faces then drawing spots and moustaches on them.
4. Get the kids to try on all their clothes and whatever doesn’t fit goes to a younger sibling or into a charity bag. In order to stop a full blown war, it helps if you can choose the particular clothes that you think won’t fit and let them be found in one particular pile, rather than letting them ransack all your drawers.
5. Make something- get old cardboard boxes, foil, pens, glue, glitter and let the kids make whatever they want. Magic Power Ranger wristbands, Spiderman web-blasters with silly string, Barbie hair clips, High School Musical diaries can all be made- you just have to use your imagination. Next time you’re at the supermarket ask them for a couple of large boxes- you’ll be amazed at how long your kids will play with them. Get them to decorate them. Ours always turn into a ‘Secret Boy Club’ or ‘Girls Only Gang’. Encourage them to make club cards, signs, and a club flag. Keeps them busy for ages.
6. Get the kids to go through old videos (remember them?) and scratched DVDs. They’ll love watching all that TV. Make them create 2 piles - one that they don’t watch anymore (or that are broken) and another they want to keep. Pass on ones they’ve grown out of on to younger friends or sell them on ebay.
7. Gather all your plants into the kitchen or bathroom. Arm the kids with a water spray gun/ or water guns work just as well and give them a soft cloth. Let them spray the plants and wipe off dust. They’ll love it and it will give your plants a good dose of TLC. Just make sure the plants don’t have thorns or sharp edges.
8. Choose some old clothes you don’t want any more and let the kids help you decorate them with stick-on gems stone, pens, glue etc. They’ll love doing it. Encourage them to design their own outfit- which they then have to present to you in a catwalk show later on.
9. Cook something. Kids love cooking. They’re loads of recipes you can get off the internet. Fairy cakes are always easy, biscuits are good fun for shaping and cold dishes like mousse always goes down well. When making fairy cakes I always mix up lots of different coloured icing, and have bowls of things to add on top -such as sweets, raisins, nuts, chocolate chips etc.
10. Get out lots of old sheets, blankets and cushions and let the kids build their own cubby house in their room. Don’t try and tidy up until the end of the day- simply accept that they are having fun. Help them fasten sheets to curtain rails, door handles and ties. They’ll love making their own place to play.

These top tips were bought to you by Floorell, www.floorell.co.uk