1
Make a model Find a large box and fill it with a variety of cardboard boxes, paper, plastic containers, egg boxes, cellophane and chunks of wood. Then make a smaller box into a toolbox by filling it with glue, scissors, nails, hammer, masking tape and a stapler. Now set them a project — a giant robot for example or a fairytale castle or a dolls’ house.
2
Become a reporter “Make your own family newspaper. The kids pretend to be reporters gathering family news, such as new babies, holidays, new clubs or sporting activities. They add photos and drawings and arrange it on a piece of paper, then we photocopy it for them.”
Lucy, mum of Calvin, 10, Henry, 8, Mary, 6, and Tommy, 3
3
Create your own jewellery For this you can use dried food like pasta, dried apple rings or beans. Work out a pattern then thread them together using a paper clip as a fastener.
4
Guess the smell Collect up various smelly objects around the house — soaps, dirty socks, shampoos, bread roll, drinking chocolate — and the blindfolded sniffer has to guess the smell held up to his or her nose (no touching!).
5
Just dough it Modelling dough makes great ornaments or jewellery. Cut the crusts off ten pieces of bread and break into little pieces. Mix in two tablespoons of glue and the juice of half a lemon. You can roll the dough into beadsand put a hole in them before they harden. Place them on a tray covered with greaseproof paper and allow two days to dry. Paint with acrylic or water paints.
6
Get cooking Let the kids make lunch — something simple like sandwiches. You can prepare the different fillings in advance and they can take everyone’s orders and make up the sandwiches themselves.
7
Make a vase Make a fantastic pot, mask or vase out of papier mâché. Mix flour (or wallpaper paste) and water into a paste with strips of newspaper. Cover a blown-up balloon with the gluey strips, hang out to dry on the line and burst the balloon once the maché has set hard, then paint your creation.
8
Remember, remember "The memory game is good rainy day fun – I put things like keys, an egg cup, a coin, some cutlery, a letter, on a tray. The kids look at it for ten seconds, then they have to write or draw everything they remember."
Alison, mum of Jessica, 9, and Sammy, 7
9
Guessing game Play the Guess Who? game by pinning the name of a famous person to each player’s back and getting them to guess who they are by asking yes/no questions. Set a target of 20 questions to guess the person's name.
10
Take something apart Let him take apart an appliance while you supervise – kids love seeing how things work and will be thrilled to unscrew a broken clock, an old phone or bike parts.
11
Start a family tree On a large sheet of cardboard write the names of all the family members — you can add photos if you like — and go back through as many generations as you can. This is a good one to get grandparents involved in.
12
Puzzle it out Make jigsaws and puzzles more dynamic by setting challenges for your child. Bring life to old puzzles by seeing how long it will take to cover the carpet in completed jigsaws or turn jigsaws into a treasure hunt by hiding pieces around the room and shouting “colder!” or “warmer!” until your child has found them all and can complete the puzzle.
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