Arts & Crafts

This is just a very small selection of the hundreds of games and ideas we have available in the members only section which is freely accessible to all our Families, Nannies and Educators.

Sand Volcano

You will need:-

Sand –in a sandpit or at the beach
Baking soda
Food colouring
Vinegar
A small plastic container

Round up all hands on deck to build a volcano in the sandpit or at the beach. (The bigger the better!)
Dig out a small crater at the top and put in a small container- ie: a yogurt pot. Spoon into the container several tblspns of baking soda, food colouring (red is good as it looks like lava), then pour in some vinegar over the baking soda and colouring.

Stand back and watch the ‘lava’ fizz and bubble as it overflows down the sides of the volcano. Keep adding baking soda and vinegar for repeat eruptions.

(It is great if the children can help add the ingredients). Children are learning about chemical reactions, volcanoes and are also engaging in imaginative play. Find some books about volcanoes to look at to extend their knowledge.

Recipe for Play Dough (Cooked, you can see the recipe in use Here)

• 3 cups of flour
• 1 cup salt
• 6 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 3 cups water
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• food colouring

Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large saucepan. Blend water and oil together in a bowl. Add to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens. Add several drops of food colouring until you get the right colour. Cook for about five minutes. Take the play dough out of the saucepan and put it on a cutting board or counter and knead for a few minutes. Add flour if it's too sticky.

This play dough should last around three months if you keep it sealed in an airtight container or plastic zip lock bag. It's so smooth and fun to play with when it's still warm.

Box Construction
Keep all empty cardboard boxes from around the home. On a rainy day, pull out the boxes and have a large space for children to build. You can provide glue or cellotape to stick boxes together.

Other things to save: milk bottle tops, yoghurt containers, soft drink bottles, meat trays, tin foil, glad-wrap rolls, egg cartons, egg shells (these are great when crushed, coloured with food colouring and then placed into the hot water cupboard for about a week to dry). You can also do the same with sand from the beach. What ever other things are readily available, children love to create, build, paint, break and rebuild!

Goop

• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups cornflour
• Food colouring

In a large bowl, mix together water and cornflour until smooth. Add food colouring and stir. Play with goop on a plastic covered surface or on newspaper.

Uncooked Play Dough recipe

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• colouring
• 2 tbs oil
• 1 cup water (approx)

Mix dry ingredients in bowl then add oil. Mix colouring andwater in a jug then add to the dry ingredients/oil mixture a little at a time, stirring then mix with hands and knead.
Dough should be kept in an air tight container, and can be kept for up to a week in the fridge.
The salt is particularly important, as it assists in the shelf life of the dough and also makes it taste bad enough for toddlers to spit out just in case.