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Homemade Fun: Blowing Bubbles

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We were in our local parade today as part of our preschool. One of the hits with the preschooler set in the crowd was the bubbles. Since my daughter and I play in a band that goes to parades all summer, I’ve decided that I need to get an automatic bubble-blower hat for my head that will make bubbles while I play and march. Off to check Ebay…. Creating big bubbles, tiny bubbles, and lots and lots of bubbles is one of my daughter’s favorite summertime activities. If you also have a child who adores bubbles, you don’t need to … Continue reading →

Homemade Fun: Sidewalk Chalk

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Are you creating a toolkit for outdoor adventures this spring? Sidewalk chalk is one of our favorite things. Your preschooler can make tremendous murals on the sidewalk or indoors on a wall painted with chalkboard paint. While sidewalk chalk is inexpensive to buy, it is also very fun to make. Always run out of green? Want to look pretty in more (and more and more) pink sidewalk chalk? Create a batch of chalk with your preschooler. To create your own chalk, you will need a tub of Plaster of Paris, a jug of water, and something to make the chalk … Continue reading →

Sidewalk Chalk Games

Break out the sidewalk chalk and think big! With a yard stick, or a board to use for a straight edge, your kids can use the chalk to draw a giant checkerboard or chess game on the driveway or patio. As a plus, it takes a while to color in all those squares! And it’s a good lesson in measuring and parallel lines. For checkers you can use different colors of paper plates. For chess pieces, you could draw pictures on the plates, or even use stuffed animals. I’m thinking the kids could even be markers themselves and play a … Continue reading →

Wet Sidewalk Chalk

You and your kids may think sidewalk chalk is old news, but here are some fun ways to make it feel like a new toy. Wet chalk draws with much more vibrant colors. Simply soak the chalk in a tub of water, or even a puddle, for a half hour or so. The change in color alone will occupy kids for a good chunk of time. If you are using wet chalk, the chalk will get used up quicker. The wet chalk lays down more chalk, hence the more vibrant colors, but it does mean the kids will go through … Continue reading →

Frugal and Fun Chalk Activities

With the hot days of summer upon us, no more school books and backpacks, our children are spending more and more time outdoors. Since chalk seems to be a summer staple, at least it is around our house, I figured I’d provide you with some creative ideas to keep your children entertained with chalk. There are so many things you can do with chalk, besides just drawing pictures. Games and Sports Use chalk to play games. Draw game boards on the driveway for checkers, or hangman. Checker pieces can be made from light and dark rocks, or for a messier … Continue reading →

Cheap and Easy Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Recipe

After reminding everyone, how frugal sidewalk chalk activities can be, I decided to share the chalk recipe that we used. It was much easier and cheaper, than many I have seen. Here is the recipe that we found to be, not only the easiest to use, but the most inexpensive that produced the desired result. Begin by making sure you have a mold or molds of some kind. Candy molds, soap molds and even muffin pans work great. You will need to purchase a bag of plaster and some tempera paint, either liquid or powdered, which can often by found … Continue reading →

8 Frugal Ideas for the Easter Basket

Pack those Easter baskets for less this year. Here is a list of frugal ideas you can use. Homemade Treats How about some easy-to-make homemade peanut butter cups or bunny-shaped homemade chewy granola bars. These recipes and more can easily be found on Pinterest. Homemade treats are not only less expensive, but they are also free from all of the chemicals that store-bought treats have. Coloring Books Coloring books are so inexpensive, and there are many Easter themed ones out there. The provide a nice foundation for any Easter basket and can be had for a dollar or less. Stuffed … Continue reading →

Christmas Shopping for Your Child’s Teacher

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the countdown to Christmas is on, and that means parents are under even more pressure to cram as much as humanly possible into a 24-hour period. For many moms and dads that means more Bah! Humbug! than fa-la-la-la-la, but such is the society-driven hoopla surrounding the birth of Christ. In addition to cooking, cleaning and coordinating school holiday concert schedules, parents must rack their brains to come up with meaningful gifts for grandparents, aunts, uncles, pizza delivery men and other major influences in their child’s life. What’s more, most of us also feel obligated to … Continue reading →

The Glory of Tape

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We are the tape fan club around here. In the dollar section of our local department store are rolls of masking tape, and these play heavily into my daughter’s art and craft projects. We do adore tape, since it works well with recycled materials, random scraps of paper, and just about anything else. Your preschooler can create sculptures from it or decorate a fancy letter. Oh yes: it is also useful for sticking one thing to another. Recently I discovered Japanese paper tape. I am sure that some of you who are scrapbooking-inclined have discovered this long ago, but I … Continue reading →

Frugal Does Not Mean Longsuffering

I think many people avoid being frugal because they equate it with painful longsuffering and misery. The truth is, however, that that doesn’t have to be the case. Frugal: practicing economy; living without waste; thrifty Long-suffering: Patiently enduring wrongs or difficulties. (from The Free Dictionary) While it is possible to be miserable while being frugal, it is certainly not a requirement. I actually find frugality enjoyable. Maybe it’s about attitude. Personally, I get more upset paying full price for items, or when I see something that has been purchased is not being used. Frugality is definitely a lifestyle. If you … Continue reading →