Cabin Fever Busters from A to Z

I've been compiling this for the next MOPS newsletter and decided to share it here...

Cabin Fever Busters for Preschoolers from A to Z

A) Airplanes – Make paper airplanes from www.10paperairplanes.com
B) Bubble Painting – Supplies: A tray or bowl big enough for your craft paper, Tempera or Washable Craft Paint, Liquid Soap, Drinking straw, Paper (typing paper works fine). Instructions: Mix together the paint and some liquid soap in the tray. Add some water until it is runny enough to blow bubbles. Use the drinking straw to blow into the paint to make bubbles. Gently place the paper on top of the bubbles. When the bubbles pop remove the paper and leave to dry. It will leave a “tie dye” effect on the paper.
C) Craft Time – Needing fresh ideas? Our three favorite sites for ideas:
1) www.crayola.com
2) www.familyfun.go.com
3) www.kaboose.com
D) Dance – Turn on the music and dance. Invent new dances. Have fun!
E) Explore KC – For KC fun, go to www.visitkc.com or www.kckidsfun.com
F) Face Paint – Ingredients: 1 tsp. Cornstarch, ½ tsp. Cold Cream, ½ tsp. Water, Food Coloring. How To: Mix together cold cream and cornstarch until well blended. Add water and stir. Add food coloring until you achieve the desired color. Use small paintbrushes, q-tips, or your fingers for face painting fun.
G) Goop– Make your own Goop. Step 1: Make the Borate solution: 2/3 cup warm water, 1 1/2 teaspoon powdered Borax, 3 drops food coloring. Mix together in a 1 cup measuring cup using a wooden spoon. Step 2: Then, make the Glue Solution: 3/4 cup warm water, 1 cup white school glue. Mix together in a mixing bowl using a wooden spoon. Step 3: Pour the borate solution into the bowl with glue solution. Use your hands to gently lift and turn the mixture until only one tablespoon of liquid is left. It will be sticky for a moment or two. After the excess liquid has dripped off, the Goop is ready. Step 4: Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. When you are through, discard in a waste can. DO NOT try to wash it down the sink. If it dries on carpet or clothing, cover it with a cloth soaked in vinegar to de-gel it, then wash the area with detergent and water.
H) Hand Rhymes – www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-rhymes.htm
I) Ice Cream Made with Snow – Ingredients: 1 gallon snow, 1 c. sugar, 1 tbsp. Vanilla, 2 c. milk How To: When it starts snowing, place large clean bowl outside to catch snow. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, and then stir in enough milk for desired consistency. Eat immediately.
J) Jigsaw Puzzles: Put together puzzles from your collection, or create your own. Cut out pictures from magazines or junk mail and use them to make your own puzzles.
K) Knock Knock Jokes: For a giant collection, go to: www.knock-knock-joke.com
L) Light Games: Supplies: Flashlight, Paper Cup, Pointed Tool (pencil, nail, or pen). How to: Carefully poke holes in the bottom of the cup to form a design. In a dark room or tent, shine the flashlight into the cup to see the pattern that was created. Use additional cups for more designs. Add colored cellophane for interest. Turn the cups to create a Kaleidoscope effect.
M) Make a Map – Create a treasure map and send your children on a hunt through the house for “buried treasure.” The treasure may be a new book or movie, something from the Dollar Tree, or just an “I love you” note from Mom.
N) Necklaces- Give your child a piece of yarn and let them string cereal (like Cheerios or Fruit Loops) on the yarn to make an edible necklace. Tie in the back and let them eat the dry cereal.
O) Online Games for preschoolers. Five of Our favorites:
1) www.starfall.com - Great Alphabet Themed Games
2) www.bigideafun.com - Fun from VeggieTales
3) www.fisher-price.com (click on Fun & Family Time) – Educational Games
4) www.pbskids.org - Educational Games with your favorite PBS Characters
5) www.seussville.com - Fun games with Dr. Seuss Characters.
P) Puppets – Make puppets with paper sacks, old socks, or paper plates. Practice your show and perform for daddy when he returns from work.
Q) Quilt Forts – Use quilts, sheets, pillows, and cushions to create forts for playing, reading, hiding, and just new winter fun.
R) Read a Book – The Christian Children’s Book Review is a great source for information on the latest titles: ccbreview.blogspot.com
S) Sardines- This is “Hide and Seek” backwards. One person hides while everyone else seeks. As the seekers find the hidden person (one by one) they join them in their hiding spot until everyone is crammed (like sardines) into the same corner, behind the same chair, etc.
T) Tortilla Snowflakes - Ingredients: Flour Tortillas, Canola Oil or Spray Butter, Cinnamon and Sugar, Powdered Sugar, or Shredded Cheese (can do cheesy tortillas, or a sweet variety). How To: Set oven to 400 degrees. Warm tortillas for 15 seconds in the microwave. Fold the tortillas in half once and then in half again, so you create a pie wedge shape. Using clean scissors, cut triangles, circles, etc (as you would paper snowflakes). Unfold tortillas. Brush with oil or spray with butter. Sprinkle with Cinnamon and Sugar OR Shredded Cheese (Mozzarella is good to keep them white). OR, wait to sprinkle with Powdered sugar after baking. Bake until just warm and slightly crisp (about 4 minutes). Eat and enjoy.
U) Unbirthday Party – In Alice In Wonderland the Mad hatter sings of an “Unbirthday”… the 364 days a year that are NOT your birthday. Make an Unbirthday Banner, Cake, and decorations with Balloons and streamers. Unpin the tail on the donkey (make a donkey with MANY tails, the object is that the blindfolded person must find the correct tail – the one in the proper spot). Have backwards relay races. Eat dessert first. Wear PJs during the day and clothes to bed. Be creative!
V) Volcanoes – Create a playdough volcano around a paper cup. Put a bit of baking soda in the cup, then pour some vinegar into it. It makes a bit of a mess, but the children will love it.
W) Window Painting – Buy window paint by Crayola in the art supplies section at Target or Walmart. Use it to create your own window designs.
X) Xylophone – Play with toy xylophones and other musical instruments. To make a xylophone using glasses, go to pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/glassxylophone.html
Y) Yeast Pizza Dough – Make Homemade Pizza. Ingredients for Dough: 1 pkg yeast, 1 tsp sugar, 1 cup warm water, 2 TBL oil, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt. How To: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water and add oil. Combine flour and salt. Pour yeast mixture over dry ingredients and mix. Let rest 5 minutes. Roll dough onto greased pizza pan. Add your favorite pizza toppings. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes.
Z) Zoo Animals – Name Zoo Animals (elephant, giraffe, hippo, alligator, etc) and have your child impersonate their movements and sounds.