My sister is rubbish at being idle.
In her first week of uni holidays, she:
– created a website compiling all the research on our family’s genealogy;
– took my kids on an excursion to a wildlife park;
– planned a trip to Vietnam;
– organised a sisterly shibori session.
Shibori is a Japanese tradition that involves twisting and folding fabrics, binding the fabric and then dyeing it in indigo.
The best part?
There is no right or wrong way to shibori.
2 cups of plain flour 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar 2 tablespoons of cooking oil 1 cup of salt 2 cups of boiling water food colouring
Whack all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix. Add in oil and boiling water. It will be quite sticky. Scoop it out onto a floured surface and keep kneading until it comes together.
To colour play dough, I put portions in a zip lock bag and add the food colouring.
Zip lock the bag and massage the colour in. I store play dough in plastic takeaway containers.
You can add some festive cookie cutters….
Add some crafty bits and pieces…
I have previously professed my love for my local dollar shop.
Peruse the aisles and add some little toys…
Personally, I gift play dough with ulterior motives.
I’ve learned that if you encourage the giftee to open their present upon receiving it, they will often become enthralled in playing with the play dough, thus giving the adults at least 15 minutes of peace and quiet.
You’re welcome.
Do you have any economical, go-to Christmas gifts for little friends?
If you’re after even more simple but FUN ideas to encourage your children to develop their important hand muscles, then check out the Happy Hands eBook.