Salt Art
Salt
Watercolor paints
Paper
Paint with watercolors, then shake salt atop while the paint is wet. Let dry completely and then brush away the salt. Your kids will love the crystal designs that are left behind.

Wave Play
Empty soda bottle with top
Water
Food coloring
Glitter, sequins, or beads
Baby oil
Quick-bonding glue
Fill the bottle 1/3 full with water. Add a few drops of food coloring, then drop in sequins, beads or glitter. Next fill the rest of the bottle with baby oil. Glue the top securely on the bottle by applying the glue to the inside of the bottle top and screw it on. Now your child can shake the bottle and watch the waves.


Toddler Mailbox
2 paper plates
Scissors
Stapler or glue
Hole punch
Yarn or ribbon
Cut one paper plate in half. Staple or glue the half you cut to the bottom half of the other paper plate. Make sure you only attach it around the bottom, leaving a pouch. Punch two holes in the top of the whole plate (the one on the bottom) and run the ribbon through the holes so you are able to hang the plate. Write your child’s name on their plate and then let them color it and/or add stickers to decorate the front and hang it on their bedroom door. Take the time to write notes or place little cards in their pouch from time to time.

Toddler Watering Can
Clean, empty gallon milk jug
Hammer and nail
Stickers
Use your hammer and nail to poke holes in the bottom of the milk jug. Let your child decorate the outside of the jug and then go outside and fill it with water. You can then let your kid water the grass, flowers and whatever else seems fun.

Bubble Trouble
Plastic drinking straws
Bubble solution (store bought or homemade)
Scissors
Tape
Make a bubble blower by cutting two plastic drinking straws in half. Next tape all four pieces together. Dip one end of the straws in the bubble solution and then blow through the other. You will have tons of tiny bubbles.

Bugs in the Grass
Plastic or rubber toy bugs
Have your child turn their back or close their eyes while you run around and hide the bugs in the grass. Then yell, “Bug alert!” and have your child run around and find all the bugs. Laughter and chaos will ensue.

Tracing Feet
Drawing paper
Crayons, markers or paints
Have your child stand on a piece of paper while you trace their feet. Then trace your own feet on the paper next to theirs. Color the feet with crayons, markers or paint and compare sizes and talk about parts of the feet.

Paper Bag Heads
Newspaper or old magazines for tearing
Paper Bag
Crayons, markers or paint
Rubber band
Let your little one tear up the newspaper (or magazines) and wad them up and put them in the bag. When the bag is full, gather up the end and place the rubber band on so that the bag is sealed. Then let your little one paint, draw or color a happy face on the bag. If you want to take it a step further you can use yarn for hair. Enjoy!

Build a Fort
Builing a fort with blankets, a a table and treasures for the indise is always a hit. You can even eat a snack in the fort!


Feather Painting
Feathers
Glue
Tempera Paint
Paper
Mix a little glue with the tempera paint. Use a feather to brush the paint onto the paper. If you want to make the painting a little more exciting leave the feathers on the sheet when you are done. The glue will hold the feathers in place once it dries.

Finger-paint with Shaving Cream
Shaving Cream
Food Coloring
Squirt some shaving cream on a covered tabletop. Add a few drops of food coloring and viola you are ready to paint!

Try These Games Sure to Make You Smile

Winning Grin – Player one has to get player two to smile by using only facial expressions (no talking, touching or tickling). When player two grins, they switch.

Joy Journal – Ask your child what makes him happy and write it down with the date. Your kiddo’s comments might surprise you, and they will be fun to read when your child gets older and you can see how they change.

Throw a Smile – To play this little game everyone sits in a circle wearing a straight face. Then it’s time to take turns “wiping” a smile off and throwing it to someone else. Crackup and you’re out.

Smile Collage – To make a smile collage, put out a stack of magazines and ask the kids to cut out only pictures of smiling faces and then glue them down. See who can find the most smiles.