STAYING IN
3.CREPE PAPER OBSTACLE COURSE
Here’s where that crepe paper comes in again. Basically criss cross it from one wall to another, leaving just small gaps for the kids to climb through. See if they can make it through the course without tearing the paper.
4.HAMA BEADS
Children can make all sorts of designs with Hama Beads. Whether it’s a Minion, an animal, or Harry Potter, there are all kinds of patterns they can copy off the internet. Once they’ve created it on a plastic peg board, it’s your job to iron it and make it stick together. You can easily make them into keyrings or magnets too.
5.ILLUSTRATORS
If your children like drawing there’s lots of inspiration around at the moment, with illustrators offering free online tutorials to help them improve. A popular one is #DrawWithRob, a website from author and illustrator
Rob Biddulph, who’s written books including Grrrrr! about a bear called Fred who loses his growl. His videos, showing children how to create everything from a sausage dog to their very own Fred Bear, are easily accessible on his website here. Children have been sharing their finished drawings with him online using the hashtag #DrawWithRob.
6. PEBBLES
Pebble art has been quite a thing over recent years, with people decorating rocks and leaving them in parks and other places for people to find. Given the current climate, people aren’t sharing them at the moment, but that isn’t stopping families having lots of fun decorating them. Something as simple as felt tips does the trick on lighter rocks, with children decorating them however they want - some making funny faces out of them. If you want them to last longer outside then you’d be better using acrylic paint coated with varnish to give an extra layer of protection.
7. PLAY DOH
Play Doh is another old favourite and can keep them entertained for hours.
Whether they want to make their own dinosaur, elephant, car or castle, the possibilities are endless. If you can manage not to stress about the colours being mixed together it can be a whole lot of fun. And if you haven’t got any Play Doh it’s pretty simple to make your own. All you need is:
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup of salt
1 tablespoon of oil half to 1 cup of cold water
2 drops of liquid food colouring Mix the flour and salt then add the water, oil and food colouring. Knead the mixture well, adding a little more flour if the consistency is too wet.
8. WALLPAPER PEOPLE
If you’ve got an old roll of wallpaper, or any other paper for that matter, lie your little one down on it and draw around them. Amazing how long they will spend colouring themselves in afterwards. They might also want to make a wallpaper mum, dad or sibling too. And why not?
9. PENPALS AND POSTCARDS
The art of letter writing seems to be making a comeback as people are