Mums and dads, we’ve heard your cries! Little Jordan is swinging from the chandelier and his sister is stuck in the tumble drier. Your little Picassos have redecorated the bedroom walls with koki pen masterpieces and someone’s got their tiny hands on the box cutter again! Never fear. We have a few great DIY projects that will keep your little angels busy (and mercifully quiet) for a good few hours. Here are our top picks!
Microwave Puffy Paint
Difficulty: Low
You’ll need:
1 cup flour
3tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
Enough water to make the consistency similar to baking powder
Food colouring of choice
Ziplock sandwich bags
Rubber bands
Paper
Method:
1. Mix the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
2. Portion the mixture out into separate bowls and add food colouring of choice.
3. Pour into ziplock baggies and seal with rubber bands.
4. Snip off the tips of the ziplock bags as if you were preparing a piping bag.
5. Once the kids have finished painting, pop the paper into the microwave for about 30 seconds and watch the paint puff up!
Tin Can Lights
Difficulty: Medium
You’ll need:
Tin cans
Paint
Nails
A small hammer
Tea light candle
Method:
Collect and clean some old tins and have the kids paint them in their favourite colours. Use a nail and a hammer to prick small holes into the cans in different patterns.
Safety first: Hammers + nails + little thumbs = tears.
Homemade Play Dough
Difficulty: Low
This is a super easy recipe that the kids can help prepare.
You’ll need:
8 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp table salt
60ml warm water
food colouring
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Method:
1. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl mix together the water, a few drops of food colouring and the oil.
2. Pour the coloured water into the flour and salt, and mix together with a wooden spoon.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface, add more food colouring if required.
4. Store in a sealed container.
Pebble Bath Mat
Difficulty: Low
This one’s a double hitter, because not only does it require a good few hours of pebble-hunting, there’s the puzzle-like component of arranging the pebbles on a shape which will keep the kids busy for ages.
You'll need:
A big bucket of smooth pebbles, all of similar size and thickness.
A rubber mat
Hot glue gun
Clear spray paint to seal
Method:
1. Clean and dry the pebbles.
2. Arrange them on a rubber mat of your choice.
3. Stick them in place with a hot glue gun.
4. Spray with clear spray paint to seal.
Safety first: Hot glue guns can cause severe burns. Either supervise the sticking bit carefully, or leave the kids to arrange the pebbles on their own and have an adult do the sticking afterwards.