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Some of the simplest ideas are often the best way to amuse children of all ages. You must have heard the saying a cardboard box costs nothing but it will keep a child happy for hours. They can imagine it is a house, car, treasure chest or just somewhere to hide. Well here are some ideas that cost next to nothing to make and like a box will amuse them for hours, plus they will also learn whilst having fun. |
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Ideas for messy play |
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This is a recipe for dough that can be kept in an airtight container and use again and again, and it WILL come out of your carpet!! |
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Ingredients |
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180 grams or 6 oz of salt |
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400 grams or 1 lb of flour |
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approximately 150 ml or quarter of a pint of water and a tablespoon of cooking oil |
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1. The dough can also be coloured by using either food colouring, cocoa powder or powder paint and you could also add a little vanilla essence, mixed spice or peppermint oil to add a pleasant fragrance. |
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2. Mix all the ingredients together and kneed the dough to mix them together thoroughly and give the dough a pliable consistency. |
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3. The dough could also be used to make things such as plaques, coasters, photo frames etc, by making it into the desired shape and then baking it in the oven on a low heat. Allow it to cool and then decorate it with paint or felt tip pens. |
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4. Cornflour is a good messy play item. All you need to do is mix it with a bit of water and food colour and the children will play with it for hours just running it through their fingers. |
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You can talk about how it feels. |
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5. Water is great for keeping them amused you could colour it by using food colouring or just add some washing up liquid and they will play for hours, filling up jugs and blowing the bubbles about. |
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Things to make and enjoy. |
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Themes |
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Easter: Hard boil an egg, leave it to cool and then decorate it using paint, felt tips, wool for hair, coloured paper for clothes. You could have a best dressed egg man competition and then the children could have an egg and spoon race a prize for the winners of each. |
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Autumn: Collect lots of different coloured winter leaves and then get some paper and crayons. Use the leaves to make rubbings by placing the leaves under the paper and crayoning over the top. You could then use the leaves to make a colourful autumn picture by gluing the leaves on to a piece of card or paper. |
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Spring: In spring all the new buds and flowers start to appear. You could plant some seeds with the children and watch them grow. You will need some yoghurt cartons or an egg box, place some compost in each one and then each child can plant a seed by making a small hole with a pencil dropping in the seed and then watering it. Sunflower or mustard and cress are good seeds to use. |
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Summer: This is a good season for outdoor play. Make it fun to wear a hat in the sun by making one. All you will need is a paper plate, some elastic, felt tips, cellotape and wool. |
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First decorate the plate with wool for hair and then draw in some eyes etc, then measure the child's head and attach a length of elastic so that the hat will stay on. I guarantee that you will never have to worry about them wearing something to protect their head from the sun ever again and it is also fun for them to create their own little masterpiece. |
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Winter: All you need for hours of fun is some white paper and some scissors. Fold the paper in half and then into quarters. Cut small shapes such as squares, triangles and semi circles out on each of the folded edges. Open them out and see the snowflake shapes, each one will be uniquely different. You could also use circular pieces of paper to make round snowflakes. Use a plate and draw round to make the circles and then cut out before you fold the paper. |
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Nice extras for parents |
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Here is a picture that some of my 3 year olds did. This is a great idea for an activity and it would be a nice keepsake for any parent to have and look back on in years to come. |
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If you wish to contact me for any reason, maybe you have a question or query about something on my site. |
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If so don't hesitate to get in touch. |
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