Curiously Fun
After you've powered through a pack of curiously strong mints,save the tinfor some pocket-size fun. With the addition of a fewdownloadable game boards, modeling clay, and rare-earth magnets, your Altoid packaging will be transformed into a 4-in-1 travel game for portable play.
Merry Matching
Encourage your little ones to explore color matching and sorting possibilities with a delightful tactile homemade game. Paint simple woodenbucketsin primary and secondary colors, then paint wooden spoons in corresponding tints and shades. Seal the deal with a coat of beeswax or olive oil, which will keep the game preserved (and nontoxic).
Cheerios Chase
There's a reason why schoolteachers ask families to saveempty cereal boxes—they're the perfect base for any number of clever craft projects. Here, a cereal box gets reinvented as a vertical racetrack, ready to challenge our favorite marbles to a friendly competition.Made by Joelhas the tutorial.
Bowl Them Over
Turn your bathroom discards into a fun game for all.Gather your toilet papertubes, along with some some paint, markers, black card stock, and glue. Once you've brought your snowmen to life (like these fromCreative Me, Inspired You), grab a bouncy ball and get ready to roll.
Puppet Play
Thisshoeboxturned theater fromHandmade Charlottedeserves a standing ovation. While an adult should take care of the handiwork, which involves an X-Acto knife, smaller children can help with the puppets—and, of course, run the show. Miniature LED lights add a final, magical touch.
Go with the Dough
Play-Doh is a real classic, and now you can create your own custom-colored version at home with justa few pantry staples. Even if your players are at the "I-need-to-put-this-in-my-mouth" stage, you can rest easy knowing thatthis recipeis entirely edible, if a bit salty.
Inner City
Create a miniature city within your own four walls, using just foam core,washi tape, unfinished wood blocks, and a little paint! Follow instructions fromPlayful Learningfor this handmade play mat, and from there, imagination is all that's required.
For More...
For more family-friendly projects, consider:
Kid-Friendly DIY: 10 Projects Sure to Inspire Summer Fun
Kits for Kids: 10 Gifts for Young Makers
Ditch the Fridge: 7 New Ways to Display Children's Artwork
Don't Miss!
Clever project ideas and step-by-step tutorials delivered right to your inbox each and every Saturday morning—sign up todayfor the Weekend DIY Club newsletter!
