Home-Made Play: Sidewalk Chalk, Finger Paints, Play-Dough, Bubble Soap and other Goodies
compiled by Catherine Fournier
Summer time is for playing outside, for climbing trees,
lying on the grass reading a book or watching the ants,
for digging 'to China' in the sand-box. If you're a kid,
that is. For the grown-ups in charge of those kids,
summer time is fun, but it is also a time of
challenges - how to entertain children outdoors? How to
keep them close by and near your careful eye?
In addition, as a Catholic parent, I'm interested in
using everything in my family's life to contribute in
some way towards the building of our 'domestic church.'
Bubble soap and play dough may not obviously have
anything to do with the Crucifixion. But things that
help my children play together and enjoy simple
pleasures rather than battery-powered ones, do
ultimately strengthen the family. If their friends join
in, so much the better. I can monitor my children's
associations, and perhaps be a positive influence on
these other children.
These recipes should help make your back-yard the
place to be.
Sidewalk Chalk
Ingredients |
Directions |
3/4 cup plaster
of paris |
Mix ingredients together with
water to consistency of mashed potatoes |
2 teaspoons
liquid tempra paint. |
Pour into empty toilet paper
rolls, covered at the bottom with plastic wrap,
held on by an elastic band or foil |
|
Set upright on a cookie sheet
and let dry. |
|
After they are dry, peel off the
toilet paper roll.It may stick, but will
eventually come off as the kids wear them down.
THESE CHALKS LAST FOREVER! |
Paints
Outdoor Paints
Ingredients |
Directions |
2 cups Ivory soap flakes |
Mix ingredients together. |
1 cup water |
Store in air tight
container |
Food color |
|
Finger Paint 1
Ingredients |
Directions |
3 Tablespoons sugar |
Mix sugar and cornstarch. Add
water. |
1/2 c. cornstarch |
Cook over low heat, stirring
constantly. |
2 c. cold water |
Divide into separate containers
and allow to cool. Add a few drops of food color
to each and stir. |
Food color |
Freezer paper works great with
this paint and usually runs cheaper than
"official fingerpaint paper." |
Finger Paint 2
Ingredients |
Directions |
1 cup
cornstarch |
Mix cornstarch
and boiling water |
1 cup boiling
water |
Add soap flakes,
and food colouring. |
1/2 Ivory soap
flakes |
Mix throroughly
and allow to cool. |
food
colouring |
Use small amount
of slippery freezer paper. Have Fun! |
Finger Paint 3
Ingredients |
Directions |
1 cup warm
water |
Whip the warm
water and flour together. |
1/4 cup
flour |
Add the powdered
colour and mix well. |
powder food
colouring |
|
Pudding Finger Paints
VERY MESSY! Make pudding according to package directions.
Save some to paint with and eat the rest for dessert.
Kids have fun making their designs and fun licking their
fingers too! Pudding paint is fun in the bath-tub!
Jello Paints
Mix jello with a very little water, it should be thick.
This can be painted on stiff cardboard to make
decorations. It smells good and lasts a long time.
Water Colors
Ingredients |
Directions |
1 tablespoon vinegar |
Stir together the first two
ingredients. It will foam, a great lesson in
chemical reactions. |
1 tablespoon baking soda |
Add food colouring |
food colouring |
Mix in last two
ingredients. |
4 tablespoon corn starch |
Put in small containers and
allow to harden. |
1 tablespoon light corn
syrup |
Use like water colours. Make one
for each colour desired. |
Play doughs
Soft Play Dough
Ingredients |
Directions |
2 1/2 cup flour |
Combine dry ingredients |
1/2 cup salt |
Stir in boiling water. |
1 tablespoon Alum |
Divide into parts and add food
colour to each |
2 cups boiling water |
Store in airtight container in
refrigerator. |
2-3 tablespoons oil |
|
Hard Play dough
Ingredients |
Directions |
4 cups flour |
Mix dry ingredients, add
water |
1 cup salt |
Knead 7 to 10 minutes until
smooth and elastic. |
1 1/2 cup warm water |
Add food colour if desired. |
|
Make desired items and allow to
air dry. |
|
Items can then be painted. |
Silly Putty
Ingredients |
Directions |
1 cup white glue |
Mix glue and starch
together |
1/2 cup liquid starch |
Knead until completely mixed and
smooth. |
food colour if desired |
Add food colour if desired. |
|
Mixture should be solid, but
stretchy |
|
HINT: The longer you knead it,
the better it gets. |
Peanut Butter Play Dough
Ingredients |
Directions |
1 cup Peanut butter |
Mix all ingredients together.
Knead until smooth. |
3 cups powdered milk |
This will not keep, but if you
mix granola into it and roll into balls, then
roll the balls in coconut, you have a great
snack! |
1 cup corn syrup |
Store in the refridgerator |
Kool-Ade Play Dough:
Ingredients |
Directions |
2 1/2 cup flour |
Mix dry ingredients
together. |
1/2 cup salt |
Add water and oil, stirring
well |
1 tablespoon alum |
Knead until smooth, allow to
cool |
2 packages Kool-Aid |
Store in a plastic bag in the
refrigerator. |
2 cups boiling water |
|
3 tablespoons cooking oil. |
|
Peppermint Play Dough
Ingredients |
Directions |
3 cups flour |
Combine all ingredients together
in saucepan |
1 1/2 cup salt |
Cook over medium heat until
mixture pulls away from sides of pan. |
6 teaspoons cream of tartar |
Be sure to stir constantly. |
3 cups water |
Knead, add colour if
desired. |
3 tablespoons oil |
Will last 3 months if
refrigerated. |
peppermint extract |
|
Cream Cheese Mints/Edible Playdoh
Ingredients |
Directions |
3 ounces softened cream
cheese |
Combine cream cheese and
peppermint extract |
1/2 teaspoon peppermint
extract |
Gradually add sugar |
2 to 2 1/2 cups icing sugar |
Knead until dough is no longer
sticky. |
|
Divide into portions, knead in
food colour |
|
For mints: shape into 3/4 inch
balls, flatten with a fork and let dry at room
temperature. |
|
For playdough: store in baggie
in the refri gerator. |
Bubble Soap
Bubbles 1
Ingredients |
Directions |
2 cups liquid detergent |
Mix together, store in jar |
6 cups water |
|
3/4 cups corn syrup |
|
Bubbles 2
Ingredients |
Directions |
1 cup water |
Mix together, store in jar |
1/3 cup Joy or Dawn dishwashing
detergent |
Dip large end of a funnel into
bubble mixture, blow through small end. |
2 tablespoons glycerine. |
|
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