Info Centre - Bored Kids

Some toddlers may lose interest in this activity once the paper bag is stuffed. That's okay, because the real value of this activity for the toddler is in the tearing of paper.

Materials

• Newspaper or old magazines for tearing
• Paper bag
• Rubber band
• Crayon, marker, or paint

Directions

1.      Tear up old newspapers or magazines.

2.      Crumple up the pieces and stuff them in a paper bag.

3.      When the bag is full, seal the end with a rubber band.

4.      Then draw or paint a big happy face on the paper bag.

This item will work well as a large, lightweight object for your toddler to lift, carry, or throw.

If your child is likely to eat the glue-covered noodles, substitute corn syrup thinned with a little water for the glue. Many toddlers will enjoy just playing with warm spaghetti noodles on a highchair tray or tabletop.

Materials

• White glue (or corn syrup)
• Food colouring in 2-3 different colours
• Containers for glue
• Cooked spaghetti noodles
• Styrofoam meat tray
• Yarn or ribbon

Directions

1.      Decide how many colours of glue you want to make, and pour the glue into that many containers.

2.      Add a few drops of food colouring to each glue container, using a different colour for each container.

3.      Show your child how to dip the spaghetti, one piece at a time, into the coloured glue, and lay it on the Styrofoam meat tray.

4.      Repeat, using different colours of glue, until your child tires of this activity.

5.      Let the noodles dry, then remove from the meat tray, tie on a piece of yarn or ribbon, and hang from the ceiling as a mobile.