Entertaining

Here is an idea for entertaining visiting children indoors:

"I did want to share something I've done that has worked with havingchildren over. Here in Colorado we have lots of too windy, too coldto play outside days, but we still want to have people and children over. To help with this, I keep gallon size zip-lock bags with craftsinside for the kids to grab if they get bored or too loud.

Each bag has instructions for a craft and most of the supplies needed forseveral children to do the craft (they just grab scissors, glue,whatever, from our craft bins). You can then replenish the suppliesas you run low on full bags, reusing the bag and instruction sheets. I keep them in a milk crate on the play area shelf along with an oldplastic mat or shower curtain for the floor .

Ideas: decoupage lightswitch, stained glass tissue pictures, cotton ball animal pictures,bracelets, pipecleaner and bead stars or trees, paper cup maraccas,foam holiday frames or magnets, paper bowl turtles, noodle mosaics,hanging spinning paper snakes. If you order from Oriental TradingCompany at all, you can often pick up a craft kit for 8-10 for verylittle and add this to your bags.

I've found that even the boys often enjoy sitting around a craft for a while, and if it does get messyit's a localized mess that they can easily clean up when done. Usually a craft plus exploring the toys my children have that theydon't have can keep everyone content for several hours."

Bobbi from Heart-N-HomeBooknook@yahoogroups.com