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THE PROJECT
TABLE
Winter lends itself to indoor projects, which
can mean lots of tedious setting up and
cleaning up. A better option, if you have
room, is to devote a small table to ongoing
projects, such as LEGO construction, modeling
with clay, paper doll dressing, drawing and
model making. Instead of having to clean up,
kids can simply return another day. For added
inspiration, post a list of great projects at
the table.
MUNCH ON
MARSHMALLOWS
Why should marshmallows be only a summer
delicacy? After dinner, toast up a few in your
fireplace or over a grill. For a true taste of
summer, make s'mores. Serve with a big glass
of sunny lemonade.
SCULPT SOME
SNACKS
Mix up a batch of this versatile pie dough
(blend 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon
of salt, 1/3 cup of shortening, 1/3 cup of
butter and 5 tablespoons of cold water), but
don't bother making pies. Let the kids turn
their dough into sculptures and bake at 350
degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Or make mock
snickerdoodles: Roll the dough to 1/4-inch
thickness. Spread on 1 1/2 tablespoons of
softened butter, sprinkle with sugar and
cinnamon, roll it into a log, cut into
pinwheels and bake for 25 minutes at 350
degrees.
BUSY TOWN,
USA
In a relatively out-of-the-way place (Read:
not in the middle of the kitchen), let your
kids set up a miniature town with their whole
slew of toys: wooden blocks, tiny plastic
people and animals, miniature cars, the train
set. Each child picks characters, arranges the
homes and businesses of her imagination and
puts out her shingle for customers. If you've
got shrink plastic from the craft supply
store, you can even let them make miniature
signs for the town.
BRING THE
OUTDOORS INDOORS
Shake things up by suggesting the kids play
some classic outdoor games inside--playing
marbles, blowing bubbles, playing jacks, even
setting up a modified indoor croquet game
(with long cardboard tube mallets and Nerf
balls). If you have a playroom, you might also
let the kids set up a semi-permanent fort or
campsite with a blanket tent. For
extra-cooped-up times, you could even bring in
some of the smaller yard toys (we moved in our
Little Tykes slide one long winter) so kids
can get their exercise. |
