Boredom busters for kids

My book ^_^

By Kate on April 4, 2012

Yey! My book has finally been released. The whole process has taken over a year and, at times, I really didn’t think I would get there! It’s wonderful to finally be able to show you some pictures, and also to feel a bit more relaxed about the whole thing.

The book is called “eco-friendly crafting with kids” and contains 35 step-by-step projects for preschool kids and adults to create together. (Even though the book is aimed at preschoolers the projects would also be suitable for 5, 6 & 7 year olds).

I picked a fairly random set of images to show you…I was finding it hard to choose. The book really does look stunning, largely due to the efforts of photographer Carloyn Barber, stylist Liz Belton and Designer Sonya Nathoo.

The book is split into eight sections; homemade materials, music, nature, recycling bin, paper and card, sewing and threading, science and boredom busters.

I would love for you to buy a copy if you like the look of it *^_^*. You can purchase one at amazon.co.uk, amazon.com, amazon.ca, barnes & noble (and many other places). You can also order it from the book depository (which does free worldwide delivery) and lots of other websites! (btw my Australian pals and I use the book depository to send presents to one another and we’ve always been really happy with the service!)

51 comments

Eye-bombing (the new yarn-bombing)!

By Kate on March 23, 2012

I saw this great post at flutterflutter last week which was all about ‘eye-bombing’ and ever since reading it I have had an overwhelming desire to stick googly eyes to absolutely everything. It’s a great activity for the kids too!

Sugar-sprinkle monster - Sadly he is no longer with us.

Sugar-sprinkle monster. Sadly he is no longer with us.

Sheepish venus fly trap

Sheepish venus fly trap.

Sad string

Sad string.

Cute cactus

Hungry holepunch

Prudish door handle!

Do join in! It’s lots of fun. If you want more inspiration then there is a whole website dedicated to the art of eye-bombing here! Thanks flutterflutter.

Happy Friday all! x

13 comments

Teddy bear toast

By Kate on March 19, 2012

I‘m always on the lookout for really easy recipes that my sons can make (there’s not always enough time for baking). I saw this super-cute teddy bear toast idea here and had to try.

Teddy bear toast

All you need to make this sweet breakfast is toast, banana, raisins, butter/margarine, cinnamon and sugar*.

Teddy bear toast

Pretty lovely huh!

Teddy bear toast

Check out the full recipe at kidssoup.com. *For the sugar/cinnamon sprinkle we just mixed a teaspoon of caster sugar with a pinch of cinnamon. Yum!

Teddy bear toast

21 comments

Super quick paper toy {flying fish}

By Kate on January 27, 2012

We ♥ flying fish! They take about a minute to make and you can use any old scrap of paper. When you have made one simply throw it in the air and watch it spin as it comes down.

Flying Fish

They are ever more fun if you stand on a chair or table before launching them (be careful though!).

Flying Fish

How-to

1. Cut a strip of paper. My strip measured about 20cm x 2cm but there is no need for accuracy (hurray!).
2. Cut slits at either end, as shown.
3. Make lots….everyone will want a go!
4. Bend the strip of paper and slot ends together.
5. Throw in the air and watch them spin as they come down (they are impossible to photograph so no photo for this step!).

Kate ^_^

12 comments

Boredom busters

By Kate on March 3, 2011

I finally got our ‘boredom busters‘ post up. Hurray!! You can see the link on the top navigation. Many thanks for all your wonderful suggestions. You were ace.

If you want to suggest any more, leave a comment, and I’ll add them to the list. I’m going to do an additional recipe page – so all the cooking suggestions will be added to that page at a later date – I promise!

The picture is of my son playing with his fishing game – he was very taken with it!

Magic potion #2

By Kate on February 17, 2011

This fizzy magic potion is pretty fabulous and simply worth doing just to see the look on your kids face!

Magic potion

My son was gobsmacked and kept shouting…”Mummy look..it’s getting bigger and fatter”!…

Magic potion

…which it does…

Magic potion

…and it made my son a very happy chap which is cool!

Magic potion

Click on the link below to see more!

Magic potion #1

By Kate on February 2, 2011

My 3½ year old son is into magic at the moment and wants a (working) wand for his birthday! In our ‘boredom busters‘ post one of my readers, Jo, came up with the fabulous idea of making magic potions – naturally I thought my son would love it.

Magic potion

So here’s the lowdown on magic potion #1: Get a handful of red cabbage, chop it up and pour boiling water over it to produce a blue dye.

Magic potion

Get some lemon juice and add a few drops to the cabbage juice.

Magic potion

Watch it turn the most AMAZING pink! (I have not enhanced the colours in these pictures at all).

Magic potion

Here’s the science: Red cabbage juice contains a natural pH indicator that changes colours according to the acidity of the solution. Read more about it in this great article at chemistry.about.com.

Anyway, it’s a really cool little experiment and my son wants to do it every day at the moment. We’ve already waded through a whole cabbage in the name of scientific research. I still can’t get him to eat any though! Incidentally cabbage juice makes the most amazing pink playdough!

I’m going to do a whole series of posts on magic potions so keep your eyes peeled.

I’ve also got some valentine craft coming up in the next few days. I’ll get the boredom busters page up by the end of the week – it’s taking a little while to put together, simply down to the amount of brilliant suggestions I’ve had.

20 comments

Flour fun!!

By Kate on January 24, 2011

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all the people that left a comment in the boredom busters post. You guys came up with some fantastic ideas.

I’m going to leave the post open to comments for another week or so, then I’ll put the suggestions into one page (and link it up in the top navigation) so we can all refer to it.

Thank you Erin from ohthehubanity.blogspot.com for your suggestion. We played with flour today and it was heaps of fun. It kept both boys occupied for about an hour – they were chuffed to bits! They didn’t even argue…what a result!

4 comments

Mini-eco needs you!

By Kate on January 20, 2011

Just lately the weather has been so flipin’ miserable and I sometimes feel like I have run out of ideas for things to do…..so I’ve ended up flicking the telly on because the kids are driving one another crazy and they are BORED!

Build a den

I thought it would be cool, with your help, to try to get together a list of ’50 boredom busters’ so we all have a list to refer to in case of a boredom emergency? Cool? Can you help?

The only rule is that you have to use common household objects and it’s gotta be something you can do for free! If anyone has any really easy recipes that would be ace too!

Here are a few ideas to get started

1) Make a den! Grab some cushions, a table, sheets and make an indoor den. Perfect for a rainy day and our no.1 boredom buster
2) Make a mudpie. Grab some spoons, water and some plastic pots or muffin trays and head outside to make some muddy pies.
3) Do the washing. Last summer I made a child-sized washing line with some string and a couple of sticks stuck in the ground. My kids had heaps of fun ‘washing’ clothes and pegging them on the line.
4) Make playdough!
5) Ice cube painting – it’s the perfect summer activity!

Leave a comment below if you have any ideas to share

61 comments

Our pet snail

By Kate on August 18, 2010

I can highly recommend adopting a pet snail for a day. They make brilliant temporary pets! My boys were chuffed to bits and the snail seemed pretty happy too…smiles all round!

Pet snail