| Indoor Winter Fun for KidsLast month the kids | | | | detergents), and 1 tbsp ammonia. Pour over |
| were out in the snow making snow angels, snow | | | | charcoal briquets. |
| families, snow-cones. But now we're in the | | | | |
| middle of winter and, depending on where you | | | | (3) Sprinkle a few drops of food coloring |
| live, the wind may be too nippy and the | | | | onto the briquets -- blue is nice, but use |
| temperature too low for outdoor play. What | | | | any color your children prefer. |
| to do?The best activities for kids can cost | | | | |
| little more than pennies. Much can be done | | | | (4) Slide pan into a protected corner, and |
| with ordinary ingredients and a little | | | | watch the crystals grow!Goop - Mix 2 cups |
| planning ahead. Here are some | | | | salt with 1/2 cup water and cook for about 5 |
| mix-in-the-kitchen crafts recipes for you and | | | | minutes in saucepan over medium heat. Remove |
| your children to make. Think 'snow | | | | from heat and add 1 cup corn starch and |
| day'!Magic Crystals - You may remember those | | | | another 1/2 cup water. Return to heat and |
| little grow-your-own crystals kits from your | | | | stir until mixture thickens. Optional: add |
| childhood, probably next to the display for | | | | green food coloring. When cool, store in |
| sea monkeys. In years past, they were also | | | | plastic bag. Kids love to play with this |
| called Depression Gardens, like Depression | | | | stuff, don't ask me why!Kool-Aid Play Dough - |
| glass from the era of the Great Depression. | | | | Mix together the following: 1 cup sifted |
| This recipe definitely needs adult | | | | flour, 1/2 cup salt, 3 tbsps vegetable oil, |
| involvement or supervision, depending on your | | | | and 1 small package of unsweetened Kool-Aid |
| child's age.(1) Place 3 charcoal briquets in | | | | drink mix (or other unsweetened powdered |
| a disposable aluminum pan or pie tin. | | | | drink mix). Add 1 cup boiling water. Stir |
| | | | ingredients, then knead mixture on waxed |
| (2) Mix together 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup | | | | paper until it forms a soft |
| water, 1/4 cup liquid bluing (found in | | | | dough.Papier-Mache - Here's a kid-amuser |
| laundry section of supermarket, by | | | | that's probably ancient. |