Busy During the Holidays

Need some ideas for activities to do during the Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday breaks? I have selected  nine activities that will keep your children busy for hours! Most of these items you will easily find in the house without ever heading to the store. Enjoy and happy holidays! :)

Fabric Garden-

Materials:

Scraps of plain and floral fabric

Colored markers

Plain paper

White glue

Poster board

Directions:

First cut out the flowers, leaves, stems, and buds from floral fabric. Plan fabric can be used to cut out additional petals, leaves, and stems. Use colored markers to outline the shapes. Glue all the shapes onto the paper to make them firmer. Let the glue dry completely. Reassemble the shapes on the poster board to make flowers, plants, and imaginary flora so that the finished effect is like a flower garden or field of flowers designed by your child.

*Taken from the book “365 Days of Creative Play” by Sheila Ellison and Judith Gray

Paper Chain People-

Materials:

Pencil

Paper

Scissors

Crayons

Directions:

Fold paper accordion- fashion so that all sections are equal. On the top section, draw a person whose hands extend the folds of the paper. Carefully cut around your person. Open out the paper and your child will have a chain of several people holding hands. Color them in with crayons and take them to the refrigerator.

*Take from the book “365 Days of Creative Play” by Sheila Ellison and Judith Gray

Bear Hospital-

Materials:

Old Sheeting

Masking Tape

Band-Aids

Scissors

Directions:

Tear narrow strips of old sheeting to make bandages. Cut out triangular shapes too. Show your child how to make an arm sling and how to tape down bandages. Using his or her bears, dolls, and stuffed toys as patients, have your child pretend that he or she is in the hospital or clinic where the toys must be treated and repaired. Be careful to handle the toys gently.

*Taken from the book “365 Days of Creative Play” by Sheila Ellison and Judith Gray

Paper Bag Puppets-

Materials:

Markers

Small brown paper bag

White glue

Yarn

Scissors

Construction paper

Directions:

Draw the puppet’s eyes, nose, and mouth on to the bottom flaps of paper bag. Glue on yarn for the puppet’s hair. Use scissors to cute things out such as bow ties and buttons from the construction paper. Glue them onto the bag for puppet’s costume. Put a hand inside the bag to move the puppet’s mouth.

*Taken from the book “The little Hands Art Book” by Judy Press

Paper Plate Spider-

Materials:

Scissors

Black construction paper

Small white paper plate

Long piece of string

White glue

Black marker

Directions:

Use scissors to cute the black construction paper into eight long strips. Accordion fold the paper strips back and forth onto themselves for spider legs. Poke two holes in the center of the paper plate, then thread string through. Glue spider legs around the edges of the paper plate. Glue two pop-up eyes on top of the plate, if you want. Use black marker to color the paper plate for body of spider. Dangle spider from string.

*Taken from the book “The Little Hands Art Book” by Judy Press

Dancing Fingers-

Materials:

Newspaper

Container of Water

Glossy White Paper

Popsicle Stick or Spoon

Finger Paint

Radio or CD player

Directions:

Cover table with newspaper. Sprinkle a few drops of water to dampen glossy paper. Use Popsicle stick to scoop a glob of paint on paper. Listen to music while using fingers to spread finger paint around paper.

*Taken from the book “The Little Hands Art Book” by Judy Press

Gak-

Recipe:

1 cup liquid starch

1 cup glue

Food coloring

Directions:

Pour glue and food coloring into bowl. Mix thoroughly. Add starch slowly, and mix in. Knead. (Feels like rubber and can be reused if stored in an airtight container)

*Taken from the book “The Cooking Book” by Laura J. Colker

Fabulous Finger Paint I-

Recipe:

½ cup cornstarch

2 cups cold water

2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin

1 cup powdered laundry detergent

Food coloring

Materials:

Medium mixing bowl

Measuring cups

Wooden spoon

Small bowl

Medium Saucepan

Jar with lid

Directions:

Place cornstarch in mixing bowl. Add 1 ½ cups cold water. Mix with spoon. Pour gelatin into small bowl. Add ½ cup cold water, mix, and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Add gelatin to saucepan. Cook on medium heat until thick and glossy. Stir in detergent. Add food coloring and mix. Store in an airtight container.

*Taken from the book “The Cooking Book” by Laura J. Colker 

Wake-Up-and-Smell-the-Coffee Clay-

Recipe:

¼ cup instant coffee

1 ½ cups warm water

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

Materials:

2 mixing boals

Measuring cups

Wooden spoon

Fork

Directions: Place coffee in a bowl. Add water, and stir to dissolve. In second bowl, mix flour and salt. Use spoon to make a hollow in center of flour mixture. Pour coffee into hole. Mix dough. Knead until shiny. (after molding, clay can either be stored in a plastic bag for reuse or be hardened by baking in 300-degree oven for 1hr.)

*Taken from the book “The Cooking Book”