25 inexpensive ways to keep your kids busy when they’re bored

To be a parent means to be always prepared. Yes, just like Boy Scouts. It helps to also be quick-witted and innovative, of course.

If you can keep your little ones busy without spending a lot of money, you are truly a super-parent. Here are some great ideas for keeping your kids entertained — and most importantly, they’re free.

1. Use colored tape to make car tracks.

2. Instead of multi-colored chalk, you can also use tape to make a game of hopscotch indoors.

To play hopscotch, you should first lay out the court on the ground. If you’re playing indoors, then use your colored tape. It will definitely keep your child busy.

3. To arrange an improvised bullseye game or maybe you own darts tournament, all you will need is a couple of sponges and some chalks.

4. Remember those dress-up dolls we had? They were made of paper and we had to cut their ’clothes’ and ’accessories’ with scissors.

You can make the old game much more realistic with a box of chalk and some old clothes.

5. Exploding plastic bags with paint will turn your sidewalks into colorful masterpieces.

To make these colored ’bombs’ you will need:

• some Zip-lock plastic sandwich bags;
• corn starch;
• food coloring or liquid watercolors;
• vinegar;
• baking soda;
• paper towels or napkins.

Mix the corn starch, vinegar and food coloring. Fill your bags at least 1/3 of the way with the mixture. Take a square piece of paper towel and put some baking soda in the middle. Form the ’bomb’. Place the ’bomb’ into the bag and seal it. Shake the bag really hard. The bag will slowly expand and a few minutes later — boom! Your sidewalks will be covered with paint and the kids will be happy.

6. Try painting on wet glue with food colorings. The result will surprise you.

For your ’canvas,’ try the plastic lid from a cream cheese box.

7. Here is another fun way to keep your kid busy and entertained. You will need leftover bubble wrap, washable paint and a large piece of wallpaper.

8. Create your own throwing tarp.

You will need a tarp, heavy rope, scissors, a marker and tape.

9. Build a tower out of cut up sponges.

This can calm down your restless children and allow them to concentrate.

10. Create a tin foil river with a bottle of water.

11. Tape the paper towel roll to the wall.

12. If you have some burlap, make a sewing station for your children.

Help your children build fine motor skills at home.

13. Children love playing with sand. They can spend hours ’writing’ letters and ’drawing’ pictures on the beach. If you want to take this fun activity back to your place, use a box filled with sugar and a pencil.

You can print out some letters and ask your little ones to write them down on the ’sand’.

14. Let’s go camping! And don’t forget about the indoor ’camp fire’!

15. Make a balloon rocket.

You will need:

• a piece of yarn or fishing line, approx. 6 feet (2 meters);
• a balloon;
• 2 chairs;
• a cocktail straw;
• tape;
• a pair of scissors.

Tie the string to the back of a chair. Thread a straw onto the other end of the string, and then tie the string to the back of the second chair. Inflate the balloon but don’t tie the end, and attach it to the straw using tape. Now let your rocket go!

16. You can arrange your own bowling tournament using everyday things like pencil erasers and a marble.

17. If you arrange yarn and tell you children they are on a special mission, they will immediately turn into their favorite superheroes.

18. Put a bar of soap in the microwave and get this soap cloud.

19. You can arrange a real tennis competition using paper plates, some popsicle sticks and balloons.

The best part is, your kids will not break their grandmother’s beloved vase while playing with this ball.

20. Make a ’spider web’ using tape.

Make some paper balls and throw them right into the web.

21. If you have stairs in your house, turn them into an indoor slide.

22. Make a rainbow bubble snake.

You will need:

• a plastic bottle;
• a sock;
• tape;
• food coloring;
• dishwashing liquid.

Cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle and slide the sock over it. Put some food coloring on the sock. Mix the dishwashing liquid with water. Dip the sock into the soapy mixture and start blowing.

23. Another bubble activity

To blow a giant bubble, you will need a bubble solution and a special blowing device. You can use a hula-hoop or two sticks with a rope.

24. Put your kids’ playdough into a balloon and you will get this brand new fun toy.

25. Let your children become fancy designers and design their own collections.