Weeks in Sahel can become a bit repetitive for the little ones; break the routine with some DIY activities that can entertain and amuse for hours, on the beach and at home. Keeping your patience in check and your cash in hand.
Rainbow Bubble Snakes
In a bit of bubble magic, a dish soap solution morphs into a crazy-cool growing snake. Perfect! All you need is an empty water bottle from your recycling, duct tape, a sock that is missing its match, dish soap and some food coloring. Another one to take to the beach or reserve for yard entertainment.
Step 1: Start by cutting the bottom of the water bottle off.
Step 2: Next slide the sock over the bottom of the bottle. You can use colorful duct tape to secure our sock, or a rubber band as well.
Step 3: Pour some dish soap into a shallow container with a little bit of water and gently mix.
Step 4: Dip the sock covered bubble blower into the solution and gently blow.
You can add some color to the bubble snakes with food coloring by dropping the food coloring onto the sock covered end.
Please remind your kids to blow air out not suck air in! If your child sucks in, they will be eating bubbles.
Source: www.housingaforest.com
Skee Ball
Dump out the laundry baskets for an indoor arcade game. Launched off a cardboard ramp, plastic balls score major points with bored kiddos. Keep the Skee Ball “station” set-up somewhere out of the way if you have the space and keep a summer-long record, turn it into a summer family tournament.
Source: www.frugalfun4boys.com
Crystal Names
It’s a twist on the classic science fair exhibit: Bend pipe cleaners into letters or shapes, and watch them grow sparkles overnight in a borax solution. Colorful pipe cleaners can be found at most toy stores and stationary stores in Cairo. Borax solution can be found at any pharmacy. Be sure to check the link for the exact measurements of the solution.
Source: www.playdoughtoplato.com
Stamped Shirt
Sure you could use potatoes, but halved bell peppers make their own intricate designs when dipped in paint. Try shades of green for shamrocks, or a pastel palette for a wearable flower garden.
Step 1: Cut the top off a large bell pepper, making sure to leave enough of the pepper so your child’s little fingers can grasp it firmly.
Step 2: Dip it, inside down, in fabric paint, then use it to stamp a white tee.
Source: www.goodhousekeeping.com
Sponge Water Bombs
Pull out these homemade spiky sponges for a riff on water balloons (that won’t cause bruising). Take them to the beach and watch the hours while away, guaranteed to curb nagging!
All you need to make these is sponges, rubber bands and scissors. You can use regular kitchen sponges that don’t have a coarse side to them.
Step 1: Cut the sponges into fourths, this will make it easier to make them all roughly the same size. Using 12 pieces for each sponge will make them nice and full.
Step 2: Stack up the 12 pieces, pinch the center together and wrap a rubber band as tightly as you can around the middle.
Step 3: Throw them all in a bucket of water in the yard or balcony and let the kids go nuts!
Source: www.endlesslyinspired.com
Flight School
These paper planes are perfect for kids — just fold, and let your imagination fly. Especially perfect for those dead hours between the beach and nighttime. Will keep them engaged for hours.
Step 1: Crease letter-size paper the long way, then fold top corners into center seam.
Step 2: Lower point to about 2.5 cm above bottom edge.
Step 3: Repeat step 1, then lift small triangle under folds so it points up.
Step 4: Uncurl a paper clip, leaving a hook on one end. Glue or tape it to center seam so hook hangs.
Step 5: Fold both wings down so top edges line up with bottom. Loop a rubber band around end of paper clip to launch.
Source: www.goodhouskeeping.com
