Art and crafts—artist smocks
Old pillowcases can be turned into inexpensive smocks for kids to use when finger painting or doing other messy stuff. Just cut a hole on each side for the arms and a large one at the top for the head.
Art and crafts—dried-up markers
Are your children’s markers starting to dry out? Dip the tip of the marker in water or vinegar for 5 to 10 seconds. Blot excess liquid, and you have just given a marker a new lease on life.
Art and crafts—edible finger paint recipe
You’ll need one envelope of unflavored gelatin softened in ¼ cup warm water, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, ½ cup cornstarch, 2 cups cold water, and food coloring. Mix sugar and cornstarch. Add water and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat and add the softened gelatin. Divide into as many portions as you have colors (four or five is best). Add food coloring to each portion.
Art and crafts—face paint recipe
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon water, ½ teaspoon cold cream, and food coloring. Mix the first three ingredients, and blend well. Add food coloring a drop at a time until you get the color you want. Store in small covered containers. Paint chubby little faces with a small paintbrush. Allow paint to dry. Remove with cold cream.
Art and crafts—make a family history book
Write a book of your family’s history. Let the kids write and illustrate their own personal chapters.
Art and crafts—make a flannel board
Cover a large piece of cardboard with flannel, using glue, staples, or tape. Cut shapes from felt, such as rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, trees, letters, numbers, and so on. Kids will spend hours creating scenes and pictures by sticking the felt to the flannel.
Art and crafts—make big crayons
Clean out a small, flat can. A tuna can works well. Preheat oven to 250°F. Fill the can halfway with crayon pieces that you would normally throw out. Don’t forget to remove any paper. Place the can in the oven until the crayons melt in about 20 minutes. Once the crayons are melted and the colors have run together (don’t stir or you’ll introduce a new Crayola color: mud), take the can out of the oven and cool the mixture in the refrigerator until hard. Pop the crayon out of the can, and your kids will have a big, new rainbow crayon.
Art and crafts—make edible necklaces
Tiny fingers can easily thread Cheerios or Fruit Loops onto a length of yarn. Tie a knot in one end, and twist a bit of tape on the other end so it is easier to handle.
Art and crafts—make place mats
Cover your kids’ drawings with clear adhesive-backed contact paper, and use them as place mats. You can also give these great works of art to their grandparents as gifts.
Art and crafts—paint palette
Use plastic or Styrofoam trays (like the ones vegetables or fruit are sometimes packed in) as palettes for mixing paint colors. They won’t leak, and they are especially good for kids’ projects.
Art and crafts—paint pots
Save old muffin tins or egg cartons for kids’ painting sessions.
Art and crafts—play-and-eat dough recipe
Here’s an alternative recipe in the event your little one likes to eat more than play. Mix ½ cup smooth peanut butter with ¼ cup powdered sugar. Can be stored in a tightly closed container on the pantry shelf.
Art and crafts—play dough recipe
In a large pot combine 3 cups flour, 1½ cups salt, and 6 teaspoons cream of tartar. Stir in 3 cups cool water, into which you have mixed 3 tablespoons vegetable oil and food coloring of choice. Stirring constantly, heat over medium heat. Keep stirring until the mixture coagulates and begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, or for about 5 minutes. Turn onto a cutting board and cool slightly. Once you can touch it, knead it until it is smooth and has the right feel. Store in an airtight container.
Art and crafts—shaving cream finger painting
Dress each kid in an old shirt, apron, or pillowcase smock. Squirt out a small amount of shaving cream on the kitchen table. The kids can then “paint” on the table, and after rubbing for several minutes, the shaving cream will disappear. Test the tabletop ahead of time for any adverse effects.
Art and crafts—sidewalk chalk recipe
Mix together 1 cup plaster of Paris, 4 tablespoons water, and food coloring, and blend to a toothpaste consistency. Pour the mixture into cookie cutters placed on waxed paper to make fun shapes, and pour it into toilet tissue tubes covered on one end with waxed paper secured with a rubber band. Allow chalk to thoroughly dry. Remove from cutters or cardboard tubes.
Bathing—baby
Smear a tiny bit of petroleum jelly above your baby’s eyebrows to channel soapy water and shampoo away from her eyes.
Bathing—food coloring
Kids sensitive to bubble bath but still want a fun and festive bath? Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and presto! Green, blue, or whatever color you want. It doesn’t stain and they love it.
Bathing—goggles for shampooing
You can turn an unpleasant situation into a really fun time if you let your child wear swim goggles while you shampoo and rinse his hair.
Bathing—lotion warmer
Lotion can be cold on a baby’s skin after a nice warm bath. Warm it up by floating the closed bottle of lotion in the bathwater with baby.
Books—covers
Instead of buying expensive, laminated book covers for paperbacks, children’s books, or booklets, use clear contact paper. It is much cheaper and performs equally well.
Cleaning—baby bottles
To clean the gook that sometimes accumulates in the bottom of plastic baby bottles, drop a teaspoon of regular rice and a few tablespoons of hot water into the bottle. Apply the lid and shake vigorously. Repeat as necessary. The kernels of rice act as tiny scrubbers to clean even the tightest spots inside the bottle.
Cleaning—rake to gather toys indoors
Keep a small plastic yard leaf rake for quickly picking up all those tiny toys kids love to scatter. Rake them into a pile. Now you can quickly sort and put away.
Cleaning—stuffed animals
To freshen up a stuffed animal that can’t be laundered, give the toy a “shower” with baking soda. Sprinkle it on, work it in, allow to sit for a while, then shake well or vacuum the baking soda away.
Clothes and shoes—mark the right shoe
Mark your toddler’s right shoe with a special mark like a heart or star. You’ll be able to teach right from left while you teach how to put shoes on the correct feet.
Clothes and shoes—securing mittens
If your kids keep losing their mittens, do this: Sew a button to each mitten, and teach them how to button their mittens or gloves to a buttonhole in their coat or jacket when they take it off. No buttonholes? Make two in a concealed but convenient place on the inside of the coat.
Clothes and shoes—trace feet for right-size shoes
Every few months trace your kids’ feet on paper, cut out, and carry with you. If you run into an outrageous shoe sale and the kids are not with you, you can fit shoes nearly perfectly using the drawn image.
Decorating—room redo
If the cost of redecorating a child’s room with matching sheets, comforter, pillow shams, dust ruffle, and drapes sends you over the edge, here’s a way to reduce that cost: Buy sheets in the pattern you want, then buy an extra set that matches exactly or coordinates nicely. Cover the box springs with the extra fitted sheet, which eliminates the need for a bed skirt. Use the extra flat sheet to make curtains and or a valance and throw pillows. Two additional flat sheets would make a perfect duvet if you have even minimal sewing skills.
Decorating—sleep under the stars
Instead of buying plastic stars or stickers for your child’s ceiling, dab glow-in-the-dark paint on the tip of a dowel and randomly tap the ceiling in your child’s room, reapplying paint as needed. The dots won’t show during the day, but at night these “stars” glow and even seem to twinkle. A cheap and easy way to surprise a child.
Diaper rash
Instead of buying expensive diaper rash ointments, purchase store-brand zinc oxide from the drugstore. It works great to prevent and treat diaper rash and is very inexpensive. Always consult your pediatrician about any unusual condition that does not clear up quickly.
Entertainment and activities—bubbles recipe
Bubble recipe: Thoroughly mix 1 cup water, ⅓ cup Joy dish-washing liquid (must be Joy), and ⅛ cup white corn syrup. Use with a bubble blower.
Entertainment and activities—create a carnival
Summer boredom set in? Have your kids help you create a carnival. Using resources such as Family Fun magazine, design a selection of simple games kids will like, such as shooting cotton swabs through straws to knock down paper cups, water balloon tosses; make a golf club with a sponge tied to a stick, and so on. Make game tickets on your computer or draw by hand. Have your kids help with setup and include some fun food, such as popcorn in paper bags or homemade popsicles. Set up prizes picked up from the local thrift shop and “price” each with the number of tickets needed to win. Invite some friends, blow up some balloons, and have a ball.
Entertainment and activities—designer birthday party
Here’s a great idea for a young girl’s birthday. Buy inexpensive fabrics for the young guests to cut and create fancy dresses. You won’t need to sew, just tie and pin with safety pins. Hold a fashion show to allow the guests to model their creations.
Entertainment and activities—dress up
Go to a thrift store and purchase old clothing, jewelry, shoes, hats, scarves, and purses, or ask for donations from friends and relatives. Select things that can easily be laundered and disinfected. Put everything into a special box or costume trunk. Little ones love to dress up.
Entertainment and activities—garden hose phone
Insert a clean, tight-fitting funnel at each end of a garden hose. One child can speak into the “transmitter” funnel, while the other listens through the “receiver” funnel at the other end.
Entertainment and activities—indoor sandbox
Here’s a cheap, indoor, rainy-day activity for preschoolers. Pour coarse cornmeal into roasting pans or small boxes to make indoor “sandboxes.” Provide plastic utensils, toy soldiers, cars, trucks, and small wooden blocks to use in the “sand,” and you will have created hours of fun. Keep the vacuum cleaner on standby.
Entertainment and activities—indoor tennis
You’ll need one leg from a clean pair of old pantyhose, a wire coat hanger, masking tape, scissors, and blown-up balloons. Bend the hanger into a diamond-shape and straighten the hook to form a handle. Slowly pull the hose over the hanger until the top point of the diamond fits into the foot portion. Now wrap hose tightly around the handle, making sure the sharp end is well padded. Tape the hose to the handle. Use balloons instead of a ball to play tennis indoors. This is easy, quick, and lots of fun for little ones.
Entertainment and activities—make a playhouse
Get a big cardboard box and cut holes for a door and windows. Let the kids color the box. Help them draw flowers at the bottom, shutters on the windows, maybe curtains on the windows. The possibilities are limitless. Washer, dryer, or other large boxes are ideal.
Entertainment and activities—occupied baby
Keep a stack of family photos at your baby’s changing table. Babies who can focus love to study the pictures, which will buy you enough time for a quick, noncombative diaper change. Just make sure these are photos you don’t mind getting crumpled.
Entertainment and activities—rainy-day surprise video
Videotape or make a digital film of the kids in action during one fine summer day, then put the movie away for a rainy-day surprise for the kids.
Entertainment and activities—toys during phone calls only
If your kids cut up and misbehave when Mom’s on the phone, here’s a solution: Keep a large bag of small toys hidden until phone time, at which time the toys are taken out of the closet and dumped on the floor. The children are so excited with their “new” toys that Mom can have a pleasant conversation.
Equipment—booster chair
Start with old magazines of the same size, and stack them to the desired height to properly boost your little one. Bind them together with strong tape, such as duct tape. Make a simple fabric cover that can be easily removed for laundering.
Equipment—chalkboard
Instead of buying an expensive chalkboard for your kids, for less than $20 you can purchase a piece of clear plywood and chalkboard paint available at any paint store. Paint according to instructions.
Equipment—kid’s bulletin board
Need a bulletin board for a child’s room? Use an old-fashioned game board—a relic from the age before electronic games took over. A no-longer-used Monopoly board is colorful and decorative for hanging on a playroom wall.
Equipment—nursery security viewer
Check on your sleeping infant without making noise or waking her up by installing a security door viewer in the nursery door.
Fear of the dark
If your children are fearful of the dark, send each to bed with a small flashlight. For the first few nights, they might flash it on and off until they fall asleep, but after the novelty wears off, they will keep it nearby for emergencies. Funny how that works, but it does. And for the cost of a few batteries, it’s a great way to help children with their fear of the dark.
Food and meals—cereal mugs
Serve cereal to little kids in large mugs instead of easy-to-tip cereal bowls. The handle helps kids control the messies.
Food and meals—mealtime tray
Use a muffin tin as a food tray for a picnic outside, snacks during a movie, or for a sick child. Paper cupcake liners can hold the different foods.
Games and puzzles—make puzzles for toddlers
Glue brightly colored pictures from magazines or books onto pieces of cardboard. When dry, draw lines shaped like puzzle pieces over the pictures. Cut the pieces out and teach little ones how to put puzzle pieces together. For very young tots, cut into only two or three pieces.
Games and puzzles—map puzzles
Make inexpensive map puzzles to help your kids learn geography. Paste any map (world, country, state, or county) onto a sheet of poster board. Allow to dry. Cut into puzzle-shape pieces. For a map of the United States, cut along state borders.
Games and puzzles—memory game
Collect two identical copies of each family member’s photo, and glue them to the lids of frozen-juice cans. On the opposite side of every game piece, glue a paper circle with the game’s title, such as “Reese’s Memory Game.” To play, lay out all pieces with photos facedown. The child turns over one piece, names the family member, then attempts to locate its matching piece. Before long your child will recognize by face and name all family members, even those who live far away. Even a toddler can play.
Games and puzzles—new puzzles
When your kids get a new puzzle, number the box and put the same number on each puzzle piece. This way, if the pieces are accidentally mixed in with another puzzle, the kids can return the pieces to their proper place.
Games and puzzles—part replacements
Don’t throw that game or toy away because some parts are missing. You can get a complete set of Monopoly money, 32 little green houses, a Boggle timer, Clue weapons, or Sorry! tokens at www.Hasbro.com. Hasbro owns Parker Brothers and other game and toy companies, so check on their website for more information. If you need Mattel or Fisher-Price game or toy replacement parts, visit www.Mattel.com.
Games and puzzles—playing-card holder
Tiny hands can hold playing cards if you make a holder from two plastic lids. Use margarine lids or the plastic tops from cans of potato chips. Simply line up the lids and secure them with a brass fastener or a button sewn on with sturdy thread. The cards just slip into the hairline space between the two lids.
Games and puzzles—rent video games before buying
When your kids want a new video game, rent it first to see if it’s the appropriate age and skill level for them. You’ll avoid spending big bucks on a game they may never play.
Hair—tiny ponytails
Tiny rubber bands from the orthodontist office are perfect to hold ponytails in an infant’s fine hair. Just one twist and that pony will stay all day.
Memories—memory quilts
If you’ve saved lots of your kids’ baby clothes and blankets, here’s a terrific idea for what to do with them. Make quilts for each child from pieces of their old baby clothes.
Memories—when you’re away
Leave a camera or camcorder with your babysitter so the next time your child does something new and special, you won’t have to miss it.
Memories—YOU, the journal
Not into keeping detailed baby books? That’s okay. Instead write your child a detailed letter for his or her birthday, citing the milestones of the past year. Keep each one, and by the time the child is grown, you’ll have an excellent life journal.
A 10-gallon storage tub makes a great baby bathtub for home or travel. Just load it up with bath toys, towels, washcloths, and other items. If on vacation, you’re ready to give your little one a bath in familiar surroundings without having to sit in a questionably “clean” motel bathtub.
On the go—bubbles
Keep a bottle of bubble solution and a couple of wands in your purse. You won’t believe all the times you’ll be able to pull that out to keep the kids happily occupied while waiting.
On the go—crayon tote
Metal bandage containers make great on-the-road crayon holders. Small enough to carry in your bag, the containers can be pulled out any time you want to keep little hands busy.
On the go—lunch prep
If you have older kids in school and little ones at home, pack everyone a lunch. This way if you have to run out unexpectedly, you and the little ones have lunch all ready to go. No need to spend on fast food.
On the go—packing for kids
When traveling with small children, put one day’s outfit (shirt, pants, socks, underwear) into a gallon-size ziplock bag. Seal partway, push out air, and seal the rest of the way to make it very compact. This saves space in the suitcase and allows you or your child to find their clothes without rummaging through everything. Keeps everything nice and clean too.
On the go—portable swimming toys
Use a large mesh laundry bag to carry your kids’ toys to and from the beach or public pool. When you return home, hose down the bag and hang it outside or over your tub so the toys can air-dry.
Organization and storage—double-decked closet
In the children’s closets, install a high clothes rod for seldom-worn dress clothes and a lower one for everyday items. The lower one should be positioned so the child can easily reach it.
Organization and storage—laundry
If your children wear different sizes of similar underwear, socks, and T-shirts, doing the laundry can be enough to send you to the funny farm because everything looks alike. Clearly, your family needs to get color-coded, and the sooner the better. Pick up a variety of fabric paints so you have a different color for each member. Mark the toes of socks and the labels on underwear and T-shirts with the owner’s color. Now folding and sorting laundry will be so easy, even the kids can do it.
Organization and storage—make up complete outfits
If you iron your kids’ school and play clothes (or even if you don’t), place complete outfits on hangers with socks, barrettes, belts, and other accessories tucked in a pocket. This saves a lot of time and frustration when it’s time to get up and get ready to go.
Safety—high-chair security
Keep baby from sliding around in the high chair. Line the chair seat with a small rubber bath or sink mat. Cut to fit if necessary.
Safety—security whistle
When going to an unfamiliar or crowded place, give small children a whistle to blow should they become separated from you.
Safety—wading pool
To keep a child from slipping in a plastic wading pool, on the bottom affix nonslip adhesive shapes designed for the bathtub.
School—assignment book
If your child is forgetful about homework and household chores, get a special notebook for writing down assignments. This will give your youngster an incentive to keep track of homework, just like Mom and Dad jot down appointments in their special books.
School—first-day-of-school security photo
Help youngsters eliminate first-day-of-school jitters by taping a family portrait or photo of a pet to the notebook or lunch box your child takes to school.
School—free supplies
Keep your eyes open at the office. Instead of throwing away outdated three-ring binders, pocket folders, unprinted computer runs, and other useful supplies, bring them home for the kids’ school supplies, or donate them to your local school. Company logos can be covered with popular stickers or vinyl-paint designs.
School—high school ring
Before spending a lot on a high school ring for your student, check with local jewelry stores. Most people do not realize that local stores offer a wider variety of styles for at least two-thirds less than the on-campus company’s price. Since this item commonly carries a price tag of $200 to $300, it pays to shop around.
School—home reading lessons
If your kids love to help out in the kitchen, let them read the recipe as you cook. This way, they get a reading lesson and learn how to follow directions, and you get to spend more time with them.
School—homework totes
Don’t discard cardboard tubes from waxed paper and plastic wrap. Give them to your kids to carry homework like maps and art projects back and forth to school.
Teaching responsibility—during school vacations
To keep skills sharp during school vacations, give kids schoolwork and chores each day. To improve their enthusiasm, decorate a big cardboard box and write Mom’s Really Fantastic Prize Box on the outside. Fill the box with assorted small toys, and small packages of mints or candy bars, and so on. This will stop the nagging and the groaning.
Teaching responsibility—lost winter wear
Most kids go through stages when they lose every hat, scarf, and pair of gloves they own. So the next time cold-weather gear goes on sale, buy a few extras and hide them away. Whenever they can’t find their winter wear, allow them to rent a substitute for, say, 50 cents. You’ll make a few bucks in the beginning, but plan on business dropping off considerably as your kids quickly become responsible.
Teaching responsibility—setting a table
Teach your kids to set the table by taping a diagram to the refrigerator. While you cook, they set and learn. Teamwork in action.
Toys—documented age range
Use a permanent marker to write the suggested age range on children’s toys. This makes figuring out which toys are ready to be donated a snap and eliminates the confusion and clutter of keeping unwanted toys.
Toys—doll clothes for less
Newborn-size clothes from garage sales make great clothes for large baby dolls. They are better quality and a fraction of the price of new doll clothes.
Empty 2-liter soda bottles make great bowling pins for kids. Put a little sand or some pebbles inside the bottles to make them more stable and use a lightweight playground ball as a bowling ball. Best used outdoors, in the basement, or in a clear area such as the kitchen floor.
Toys—road for toy cars
Make a roll-up roadway for the kids to drive toy cars along. On a piece of canvas, draw or tape out highways and byways with markers or electrical tape. Draw traffic signs, buildings, trees, gas stations, parking lots, and so on. When it’s time to stow the roadway, you just roll it up.
Start a toy-swapping club with other families. Trade toys your kids have outgrown or no longer use. Plan a really special trade during the first part of December. Young children don’t care whether new toys are actually new or not.