When the sun is beating down and you want to stay inside and keep cool without feeling cooped up, here are a few ideas to keep the kids entertained. From artsy activities to tried and tested recipes, your kids are sure to love these ideas and tasty treats.

Beating boredom can often be a tricky task for parents, especially during the long summer vacation. Here is a simple solution. Begin your new “Boredom Cure” with a tissue or shoe box, which, of course, has been decorated by your little one. When you come across an idea that strikes your fancy, write it on a slip of paper and place it in the box. Send them running to the idea box when they say they are bored. It is always encouraged to select activities that can be accomplished independently.

Colored Rice
A non-toxic alternative to glitter and sand for the young artist. Use with white glue on paper as a collage medium or it can be glued on other surfaces to add texture. Teach your little ones their letters, by placing the rice onto a letter written in glue. After it dries, they can trace the letter with their finger-tip.

You will need:
Uncooked white rice
Food coloring
Vinegar

Place 1/2 cup rice into a bowl. Add 5 drops of coloring and 1/2 tsp. vinegar to set the color. Spread flat onto a baking sheet. Bake at 200 for 45 min to dry. You may wish to make more colors at the same time. Be sure to keep them separate when baking. After they dry, they can be packed together.

Potato Prints
You will need:
Potatoes
Poster paint or tempera
Paper, cardboard, or wood
Sharp knife
Pencil

1. Cut potatoes in half or thirds.
2. Draw desired design onto potato with the pencil.
3. Young children can carve their whole design with the pencil, but if more detail is preferred, an adult needs to cut around the pencil outline.
4. Place paint in tray or paper plate in a thin layer.
5. Press potato design into paint and firmly press onto paper for impression.

Don’t have Paint? Coloring with marker onto the potato works as well although it produces a lighter effect. Mom’s Tip: Practice a couple of times to get the feel for how much paint you want on your print. To accomplish a textured effect try letting layers dry and adding prints on top in different colors.

Straw Sculptures
You will need:
Bendable straws
Tape
Paper clips
Cardboard for a base if desired.

Cut straws to different lengths. Snip a slit at one end of some of the straws. Insert straws into each other to form desired shape. Paper clips can be used for angled joints by bending into S & U shapes and inserted into the straws. To make “fireworks” or trees, cut several slits on the end of the straws and curl with scissors as you would do to curl ribbon.

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