Are your littles driving you crazy yet over this break time?
I remember when my kids were little and the week after Christmas and before school got back, could be a little hair rising.
They were tired of their new toys and they were BOOOORRRRREEEDDDD.
I can hear the whine now (insert eye roll and I hear myself say, “you have tons of new stuff there is no reason to be bored”).
Maybe your kids are better than mine, but if they are not, and you are hearing how boring it is and they have NOTHING to do then let me help you out.
Here are seven winter garden ideas for the seven days left in this week. They can do one activity each day.
- Rock painting: These can be used to label plants in the garden
- Make a bird feeder
- Pick out seeds for the next growing season from seed catalogs: Have kids map out where plants will go and when they need to be planted.
- Paint terra cotta pots for herbs next year
- Chia seed puppet
- Plant winter bulbs and seeds in the ground
- Grow a carton garden
Rock Painting
You will need rocks, acrylic paints in various colors, and clear varnish. All the materials are available at your local craft store. After protecting the work area with newspaper, the step-by-step process is as follows:
- Tell your child to pick out rocks that are about the size of an adult’s hand and have a smooth, flat shape. Wash and dry them thoroughly. If you can’t find rocks outside, river rocks can be bought at the local craft store.
- Paint the top half of the rocks with a thick layer of acrylic paint. Allow it to dry.
- Using a contrasting color, paint the plant’s name. If your child makes a mistake, use the base coat to cover over it, allowing it to dry before making corrections.
- The child may paint a pattern around the name if desired.
- When all the paint is dry, add a coat of varnish. This will protect the rock from the elements.
Bird Feeder
Kids can choose one of the following to make:
- pinecone bird feeder
- bagel bird feeder
- cereal bird feeder,
- toilet paper roll bird feeder.
- Add string to pinecones, coat them with peanut butter, and roll them in birdseed.
- Cut a bagel in half and attach string or ribbon through the hole. Have your child spread peanut butter over the bagel, then dredge it with seed.
- Young children can practice fine motor skills by threading circle-shaped cereal onto a long string. First tie a knot at the end that’s big enough so the cereal can’t drop through. Tie the ends of the string together when it is full and secure it to a tree or porch.
- Save your empty toilet paper rolls. Run a long piece of string through one of them and tie the ends together. Have your child smear peanut butter all over the surface of the roll then roll it through birdseed.
Chia seed Puppet
Make a “chia” puppet out of an old sock. Place grass seed in the toe along with some soil. Tie it off with a rubber band and draw a face. Keep the sock moist in a well-lit area and watch it grow hair!
Winter Bulbs and Seeds
Just because its winter doesn’t mean you have to stop growing. Tulip bulbs can still be planted in December, even January, if the ground isn’t frozen. Here are a few things that can be planted as long as you ground isn’t frozen. You can even do these in a container.
- Sweetpeas
- Daffodils
- Cyclamen
- Strawberries
- Garlic
- Onions
- Carrots
Carton Garden
Don’t want to get outside? No problem, start your garden indoors using recycled materials.
You will need
- Empty juice carton that has been washed
- Scissors
- Seeds
- Potting soil
- Cut one side of you carton.
- Fill with potting soil.
- Sprinkle seeds and water well.
- Place in window sill. Keep the soil moist but not too wet.
3 Holiday Science Experiments
Yeah, I know, I know…..as a parent we hate slime; but it’s for the kids, right?
And who can say no to Grinch slime?
Grinch Slime
- 1/2 cup of PVA Clear School Glue per slime batch
- 1/2 tsp baking soda per slime batch
- 1/2 cup water
- Green Food Coloring, Glitter, Confetti Hearts
- 1 tbsp of Saline Solution per slime batch
- Add your glue and water to a bowl and mix well.
- Mix in food coloring and red confetti hearts until you just can’t get enough.
- For a Grinchy-green slime color, you can use the neon green food coloring. Or try a couple drops of yellow with a drop of green (hello, science lesson).
- Add in your slime activator (baking soda and saline solution) to complete the chemical reaction you read about above. Mix well. You will notice the slime start to thicken and pull away from the edges of the bowl.
If your slime still feels too sticky, you may need a few more drops of saline solution. Start by squirting a few drops of the solution onto your hands and kneading your slime longer.
Coffee Filter Christmas Trees
This super easy craft keeps the kids occupied and they learn a little science of solubility and capillary action; but don’t tell them that.
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers – green, blue, purple, yellow
- Spray water bottle
- Clothespins
- Yellow cardstock or star stickers
- Scissors
Start by spreading out a coffee filter. Then color in the coffee filter with the washable markers. Experiment with different patterns for unique results.
Spray the coffee filter with a water bottle until just wet. It needs to be completely wet but not soaked or the color will run, about 3 or 4 sprays.
Let the coffee filters dry completely.
Once dry, fold the coffee filter in half, then fold one side in and fold the other side in, too so that the half is now folded in thirds. Insert a clothespin on the inner folds. You will have a Christmas tree shape with the clothespin as the trunk. Put the star sticker on the top or glue on a cut out star.
Santa’s Magic Milk
Who knew that milk could be so magical. Bring the magic of Christmas with this simple experiment that will leave your kids speechless (is that even possible?)
- Dawn Dish Soap
- Whole Milk
- Shallow Bowl or Ramekins
- Food Coloring
- Cotton Swabs (Q-tips)
- Christmas Cookie Cutter (optional)
- To set up for your science activity, use a small salad plate and a cookie-cutter or you can use a shallow dish or bowl of any kind. Pour milk into the dish so that is covers the bottom. The dish doesn’t have to be all the way full.
- Use your liquid food coloring to place drops of color all around the surface of the milk.
- Dip a cotton swab in dish soap. Touch the tip of the swab to the milk and watch! It’s like a little magic Christmas explosion.