Ball Ramp

We buy lots of diapers around here, and we buy them by the box, but this can be made from any box. Just tape everything shut, cut a hole in one end, and cut along the sides and one end so you can push it back, as shown. Tape the "ramp" in place, and let your kids play! Mine loved to drop the balls down the hole and see how far they'd go...
And then they found out that by placing it horizontally, it's a whole new game! Run the ball down the ramp, and watch it go out the hole!

This was especially fun on our kitchen floor, and as soon as the wind dies down outside, we'll try it out on our sidewalk.

Delicious Modeling Clay

This has got to be one of my favorites. I remember my mom making this a lot for me when I was a kid. The recipe comes from my Aunt Nadine. It's simple to make, fun to play with, and so yummy! I kept snitching when my daughter was playing this morning. This is stuff we have in our food storage, so it's either free (in theory!) or really cheap. (Thanks for reminding me of this, Meg!) Here's the recipe:

Delicious Modeling Clay
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup instant powdered milk
Mix together. More milk may be added as needed.

Pipe Cleaners

I LOVE these things! They're cheap (I got this pack for a dollar) and the fun is endless. These are great for church; I make sure I have some in my bag every week. They are quiet and they really entertain my kids. Good for learning colors, too.

Pipe cleaners are perfect for making cereal bracelets. They are stiff enough that it's easy for toddlers to put the cereal on themselves, and they don't slide off when they're putting more on. My daugter loved this! (Thanks Kelly!)

My daughter got this flower in nursery, and I thought it was a great idea. You take a paper cup and poke a hole in the bottom. Attach a paper or plastic flower (you could easily cut some out of colored paper) to one end of a green pipe cleaner and put the other end through the cup. My daugter made her flower "grow" by pushing the pipe cleaner up over and over and over!

There are SO many things you can do. Tomorrow we are going to make a tiara!

Here it is! As she calls it, her "Princess Crown".

Plastic Easter Eggs

Since you can find plastic Easter eggs in abundance this time of year, I decided to find some fun things to do with them other than just fill them with candy. I took a shoe box, and cut some holes in it. (If you open an egg and trace it, then the egg will fit perfectly). Then you put the eggs in, take a toy hammer (or fist or whatever!) and whack away! Then let your kids do it! :) My daughter loved this. I also used it as a learning tool since she is learning colors. "Whack a purple egg!" I also let her decorate it with stickers. My one year old absolutely delighted in this. He loved pushing the eggs through, then lifting the box to see where they went. He also liked setting them in the holes.




There are lots of other fun things you can do with plastic eggs. Put little toys inside and see if your child can guess what they are. Put them in a sink full of water (we love water at our house!) Have "spoon races" and fill a basket on the other side of the room (younger children can use something bigger like a ladle). Seriously, these things can be great fun!

Blankie-Pillow Party!

It's amazing how the simplest things can often be the most fun. My kids LOVE this one. Grab all your pillows and blankets and throw them into the middle of the floor. Let your kids dive in!

Pudding Finger Paint

We did this earlier today, and my daughter loved it!! Make some pudding that is fairly light colored. We used Banana Cream, because that's what I had in my cupboard. My daugher helped me mix it up, then we added food coloring, and viola! Edible finger paint! Lay out some waxed paper (I used baking liner) or a cookie sheet or even a place mat, and you have a great canvas. Then, let them have at it! For some added fun, throw in a basting brush! (Be sure to have your child wear a bib or apron!) This is also a great way for toddlers to learn about colors.

Bubble Wrap Dance

Ever get a package that's wrapped in bubble wrap? Don't throw it away! We had something come in the mail a while back that came with the BIG bubble wrap. We laid it out on the floor, and my kids went to town! They had a blast "dancing" all over it. Be sure to turn on some music. This was even fun for my 1 year old. Want even more fun? Join them!

Fun Things to do With a Ball

Knock it across the room with a kitchen utensil. Grab a spoon or a strainer with a handle.


Roll with it. Facing your child with legs spread apart, roll a ball to each other, alternatting between using your left hand and right hand.


Bounce it into a laundry basket. Hold the basket and have her try to toss the ball so it lands inside. Move back to make the game more challenging. You can do the same thing with a hula hoop.


Go Bowling. Knock over some empty water bottles or soda cans.


Size them up. Give your child an assortment of balls-tennis, golf, Ping-Pong-and an empty muffin tim. She'll have fun putting a ball in each compartment, dumping them out, and starting all over again.


Play air ball. Take turns hitting a beach ball up toward the ceiling, trying not to let it hit the ground.


Sing a silly ball song. Have him run around the room holding a ball, while belting out "The Ball on the Bus Goes Round and Round."


Toss it up a slide. She'll love watching it roll down.

Play in the sink. Fill up your kitchen sink, and throw in lots of smaller balls. Some will sink, some will float, and your child will have lots of splashing fun. Just have a towel handy.