After an extended school year, brought about by using too many snow days in the winter, classes are officially over for kids in my neck of the woods.
And by woods, I mean fenced in backyards where parents can let their kids roam free before cabin fever sets in.
If you are looking for simple projects to keep your kids entertained during the endless days of summer, consider the following:
Fluorescent Slime
Materials:
- Glow-in-the-dark paint
- Elmer’s glue gel
- Borax
- Hot water
Directions:
- Combine one cup of hot water with a cup of Borax. Stir until the Borax won’t dissolve anymore.
- In another container, mix together 4 ounces of glue gel with one cup of warm water.
- Place one part of the Borax mixture in a large Ziploc bag, and then add in three parts of the glue gel solution. Mix together and then pour in the glow-in-the-dark paint. The more paint you add the brighter your slime will be.
- When it gets dark, let the kids have fun outside playing with the fluorescent slime.
Homemade Face Paint
Don’t spend a fortune on store-bought face paint this summer when you can make your own at home for mere pennies. All you need is some cold cream, cornstarch and some food coloring. To make the paint, mix together 1/2 cup of cold cream with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. As you mix, check the consistency of the face paint. You may need to add more cornstarch to thicken the cream. When you have the right consistency, add in a few drops of food coloring. If you want bolder colors, be sure to use more of the dye. Once the face paint is made, use cotton swabs to apply or just let kids use their fingers. The paint comes off easily with water, so let them have a ball using their creativity to come up with unique designs.