Need:
* Warm water (warm enough to melt soap)
* 1 bar dove soap
* 1 roll white toilet paper

Have the children tear up the toilet paper into little bits (the smaller the better). Using a cheese grater, grate the bar of soap into a big bowl. Add the torn up toilet paper to the bowl. Add the warm water a little bit at a time while mixing the toilet paper and the soap together. You have added enough water when the mixture begins to feel like a thick cool whip. Do not make the mixture soupy. The more you play with it the fluffier it becomes. The kids have an absolute blast with it!

Flour and Salt Clay

Need:
* 4 cups flour
* 1 cup salt
* Food coloring
* Water to moisten

Mix the ingredients to desired dampness. Store in refridgerator to avoid spoiling. This clay dries hard and can be painted or decorated with markers or pens. To make reusable dough, add two tablespoons of cooking oil.

Play-dough Recipe

What You Need:
*The parents permission for the kids to play with the playdoh.
* A cleared kitchen table for the kids to play with the playdoh on.
*1 cup of flour
*1/2 cup salt
*2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
*1 cup of water
*1 teaspoon of food coloring
*2 teaspoons of oil

*Make this at your house, not at the kids' house!*

1. In a medium sized saucepan, combine 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar.
2. Over medium heat, gradually stir in 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of food coloring, 2 teaspoons oil.
3. Cook over medium heat, STIRRING CONTINUALLY, until mixture forms into a sticky, gooey ball. Keep stirring- the mixture will burn easily on the bottom if you are not careful.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Let cool for 15-30 minutes. (Best if cooled overnight. It will be too hot to play with after being on the stove for so long.)

Lei (Flower Necklace)

Need:
* String
* Straws
* Brightly colored construction paper
* Scissors
* Hole puncher

1. Cut a piece of string to the appropriate size of a necklace for the child.
2. Cut the paper into different color flower shapes approx. 1 inch in diameter. Cut as many as you'll need to fill the necklace from end to end.
3. Punch a hole in the center of each flower.
4. Cut the straws into approx. 1/2 an inch pieces.
5. Take your string and tie a knot in one end and string a paper flower then a piece of straw, a flower and so on.
In the end, you'll have a beautiful LEI (pronounced as lay). This is a Hawaiian flower necklace. In Hawaii May 1st is celebrated as Lei Day and leis are worn and exchanged.

Bugs!

Need:
* Egg cartons
* Paint
* Pipe cleaners
* Wigggle eyes
* Glue

Cut an egg carton into sections of three or four depending on how big the bug you want to make, then let the kids paint and glue eyes and pipe cleaners for antena's. They can also add pipe cleaner legs. Have fun!

Snowglobes / Sparkle Bottles

Remove the label from a clear jar. Stick a plastic figurine to the bottom and then fill the jar with glitter and water. Let the children shake the jar and watch the gliter swirl around!

Toothpick Monster

Need:
* Soft Lollies
* Tooth picks

Use lollies as body parts etc and toothpicks as connectors to create yummy creatures. All can be eaten in the end! Be careful that you don't buy the sharp variety of toothpicks.

Straw Painting

Maneuver the paint to go in any direction, by moving your straw.

You'll need :
* Straws
* Poster or tempera paint
* Paper
Place drops of paint onto the paper, and blow!
Remind children to take a break, to avoid dizziness.
Combine with a Ping Pong ball blowing game, and you have a science lesson that's really FUN!

Bubble Painting

You’ll need :
* Bubble solution
* Powder tempera paint
* Blowing wand

Try using other household objects to make bubbles i.e.
T.P. tube, straw, the plastic rings from a six pack of soda. Pour bubble mix into as many trays as you want colors.
Add about one teaspoon of dry powder paint.
Place your blowing wand into paint and blow bubbles at the paper let the bubble land. When it pops the color explodes .

Egg carton garden

Needed:
* An empty egg carton
* Dirt (soil for planting)
* Teaspoon
* Flower seeds
* Water

Purchase an inexpensive package of assorted flower seeds. Have the child use the teaspoon to fill each of the egg compartments with soil. Plant a seed in each one. Water each seed. Place the egg carton in a sunny spot near a window and let the parents know that they need to help the child keep the soil moist throughout the weeks. The child will inspect the garden everyday and be interested in every change to her little garden.

Paint over crayon

Needed:
* Non-toxic paint
* Crayons
* Apron
* Newspaper
* White paper

Put newpaper on the table and an apron on the child. Have the child draw something on the white paper with crayons. Then, paint on the same paper. The crayons are water resistant and won't allow paint to stick to it. The result is a very interesting and beautiful work of art.

Collages

Needed:
* Paper
* Magazines to cut up
* Scissors
* Markers/pens

Select a theme. Here are some ideas: about me, sports, hobbies, celebrities, colours, foods.
Use your magazines and cut out pictures that go along with your theme. Place the picture on the poster board or paper to get an idea where you want them. Leave space for a title. Glue one piece at a time. Overlap the edges. Cover the paper....you can leave some blank spaces. Write your title and color. In the other blank space write words that go along with your theme.

Autograph Books

Needed:
* Paper
* Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils
* Glue
* Scissors
* Magazines

Decide on a shape for the book. It can be a rectangle, square or circle. Cut out about 10 pages for your book. Make the cover reflect you or the kids you are helping. Draw, cut out pictures from the magazine etc. that show their interests, hobbies, sports etc. Staple together or Punch two hole along the side and tie with ribbon or yarn. Have friends sign your book.

Note to babysitters. You can make one of these for yourself and have the kids you baby-sit sign it. Then help them make their own.

Paper Aeroplanes

For some free printable foldable models go to http://www.zurqui.co.cr/crinfocus/paper/deco/plane.html or http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/projects/airplanes/ . This idea is great for boys and even girls, because there are butterfly designs availible!

Wind Sock

* Construction Paper
* Markers
* Optional: glitter, coloured sand etc
Draw designs on a piece of rectangular construction paper. Join strip of paper or ribbon to one of the longer sides. Form into a cylinder shape with strips hanging down. Hang in the wind and watch it blow around.

Styrofoam People

* Grass seeds
* Styrofoam cup
* Markers
Draw a face on a styrofoam cup. Fill with soil and plant grass seeds. Water, place by a window, and watch the "hair" grow!

Buzzy Bee Pencil Topper

* Pencil
* Yellow and black pipecleaners
* Goggly eyes
* Craft Glue
Cut both pipe cleaners in half. Now you have four 6" pipe cleaners. Place one yellow and one black pipe cleaner together and fold in half to form a "V". Place the eraser end of the pencil inside the "V" and twist both pipe cleaners one time tightly around the pencil. Place the other two pipe cleaners together and wrap them tightly around the top of the pencil, and wrapping over the top of the "V" pipe cleaners. The ends of the "V" pipe cleaners will be sticking out over the top of the eraser. The black "V" pipe cleaner forms the antennae. Now fold the yellow "V" pipe cleaner down and around to form the wings. Glue the wiggle eyes to the bee's body.

Spinning Blimp

* Paper
* Ruler
* Scissors
* Crayons or markers
1. Cut a strip of paper about 6 to 8 inches long and 1 /2 inch wide.
2. Cut halfway across the strip about 1 /2 inch from one end.
3. Turn the strip around and do the same thing on the other end.
4. Slip the slot at one end into the slot at the other end.
You'll end up with something that looks like a little fish That's it! You've made a Spinning Blimp.
Hold the blimp high over your head and drop it. It'll spin like mad on its way to the ground. Now you have a blimp that spins through the air.

Please send in your craft ideas if they are easy and do not require too many things. lis@myself.com

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