Creative Ideas Needed for Two Weeks at home :)

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Hey everyone! I'm home for 2 1/2 weeks for Christmas Break and I have my DS5 1/2 and my DD 1 1/2 home with me out of daycare (YEAH!!!). Well, I want to do some neat things with them and am really strapped on cash considering it is Christmas and all...besides the usual making Christmas cookies and snowflakes, any suggestions on some fun almost free things we can do? It will just be the three of us, so it has to be something that the little one can handle also. Thanks!!!

 

[barkley]

mini gingerbread houses-use graham crackers and frosting. we grab raisings, pretzles (old halloween candy ) to use for decorating (basicly whatever's around the house).

check out the tv schedual-see when the holiday cartoons are on (you can tivo, record on vhs, or just set an alarm so you remember). pop some microwave popcorn and kick back.

do they like to "help mom" around the house? for some reason when my kids were this age they loved to "help clean" esp. when it involved a spray bottle. so my kids ended up cleaning the inside of the sliding glass door and the mirrored bedroom closets (not the greatest job but it made them happy). they also got a kick out folding clothes i think they enjoyed teasing about it the most ("i can see your underwear"-"dad i saw your underwear today" ).

my kids still like to draw their own "christmas cards" to hand out to the family and friends.

 

[pjlla]

I'm sure that you realize that the best memories are not necessarily the ones the cost $$ (although our Disney Memories weren't cheap ). Sometimes a carpet picnic is fun with lots of finger foods. Playing with them outside (and really PLAYING, not just watching them).... maybe a building a snowman (and be sure to take a picture of them with it). Playing games (the little one and you would probably have to be a "team" against the older child), even simple ones like War or tic-tac-toe. Going outside after dark to look at the sky (try using binoculars). Maybe you can find a local YMCA or hotel pool to take a swimming day. Put on some silly kids songs and sing together while you cook and/or clean. Go to the library and get some books and/or movies. Fingerpainting with pudding or Cool Whip (directly on a clean table top)... lots of fun and you don't have to worry about the little one eating it.

I'm sure you will think of lots to do. ENJOY this special time with your kids...........P

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Those are great, thanks for all the suggestions!
They're sleeping now, but we've already had a fun morning.

 

[missypie]

Go to your local public library. Lots of them have really cool kids' sections to hang out in. Also, lots have videos or DVDs to check out.

 

[minkydog]

I loved to do outdoor stuff with them when the kids were little( I miss that!) I see you live in Texas, so perhaps you aren't snowed in.

*Take a woods walk and collect objects--nuts, sticks, pinecones. When you come home, take a shoe box and let them glue their treasures inside, like a shadowbox.

*Make birdfeeders out of a pinecone smeared with peanut butter(or bacon fat) and rolled in birdseed.

*Slice an orange or apple into thin slices. Poke a hole through the center and run a piece of ribbon or twine through it. Hang them outside for the animals to nibble on.

*Let them draw chalk pictures on the driveway(or the back of a shovel!)

There's always homemade playdoh, if you get bored...

 

[SleepyMom]

Here is a little craft we made this past week, not a lot of expense and the kids had fun.

For the trees I took a 7 inch plate and traced a circle on green construction paper, cut the circle in half and roll each one into a cone. Either tape or staple it together. Let the kids decorate it in whatever they want, we used sequins and a sparkly pom pom for the top. Use a toilet paper cardboard roll (trim about a inch off so it isn't too tall) and glue it up inside the tree.

For the Santa's, do the same only with red paper. They cut out a little pink face and drew the eyes, etc... on it. A white strip for the belt with a black buckle and black boots. Then we used a cotton ball to tear apart and make the beard, bottom of the hat and a small ball for the tip of the hat.

 

[diznygirl]

http://www.dltk-kids.com/ - lots of printable crafts and activities

My kids are popping bubble wrap right now (can't help thinking of Jeafl's MIL!!)

The library is an excellent idea - I went last week and took out a dozen books and an activity pack.

I'm looking forward to next week when they can play with their new toys!!

 

[can'twait]

Watch Cinderella on dvd.

Play with all their new toys with them.

 

[disneymom3]

I vote library too. There is nothing like the first afternoon home from the library with new books to read.

We also like to play play dough. And we make this stuff we call glurch which is kind of like silly putty, but the making is at least half the fun! Take about equal amounts of glue and liquid starch and mix them together. If it is too sticky--sticks to your hands--add more starch and if it is too stringy--just not blending smoothly--add more glue. REally fun stuff. Then there is gloop which is simply cornstarch and water. This is the weirdest stuff! If you apply pressure, it is a solid and if you let it drip it turns back to a runny liquid. My kids would play with this forever.

Don't know if this would work in TX, but you can make birdfeeders for the birds by taking a pinecone and coating it with peanut butter. Then roll it in birdseed, take a ribbon and tie it on a tree. Fun to make and also watch the birds come eat.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Don't know if this would work in TX, but you can make birdfeeders for the birds by taking a pinecone and coating it with peanut butter. Then roll it in birdseed, take a ribbon and tie it on a tree. Fun to make and also watch the birds come eat.

I don't know why it wouldn't work. We got hungry birdies here too.

TOV

 

[disykat]

It's fun to read everyone's ideas! Here's an oldie but goodie - make paper chains. I was going to suggest stringing popcorn and cranberries until I saw the age of your youngest! I loved making paper chains as a kid.