“I’m booooored!” It’s the phrase parents dread to hear, sending them scrambling to keep their kids occupied.
At this point in the summer, you’ve probably run out of options – especially if you’ve been staying home a lot. But we’re here to help. Or, we should say, six South Floridians from various fields are here to help. Ranging from a florist to a chef to a personal trainer and more, they provide six activities that can be done at home and on the cheap. And who knows? You might even have some fun yourself.
Create An Edible Arrangement
Courtesy Carlos Marquez, senior special events designer at Boca By Design at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, this sweet project proves that edible arrangements don’t always include fruit. Sure to give your kids a sugar rush, it’s a creative spin on traditional floral arranging.
What You’ll Need
- Clear glass vase
- Block floral foam or Styrofoam
- Enough of your favorite colorful candy, such as birthday cake malt balls, to fill the vase (with foam inserted)
- 4 skewers or cake pop sticks
- Wax or parchment paper
- 28 marshmallows
- Gemstone pins (optional)
- Small tube white royal icing (or use toothpicks or wire)
Instructions
- Place vase on a clean surface. Cut block of foam to fit in the vase, making it about half as high as the vase, and place inside. Fill the vase with candy to the height of the foam. Layer colors or shapes if you wish.
- Lay your skewers or sticks on wax or parchment paper. Skewer 3 marshmallows on the end of 1 skewer or stick, creating the center of the flower. Place 7 gemstone pins, if using, on the center marshmallow for color. Use icing to stick 2 marshmallows on either side of the center of the flower for a round shape. Repeat on remaining 3 skewers or sticks.
- Place the sticks into the foam in the vase. Fill the remaining space in the vase with candy. (Note: Be sure to remove gemstones before eating.)
Cook Up Some Carrot Pudding
Courtesy Chef Deb Dickinson, of Culinary Creations by Deb, a personal chef service in Boynton Beach, this recipe is perfect for preparing with kids. “It’s a bonding experience that provides a fun way for them to explore tastes and textures while expanding their palate. Oftentimes, children are more likely to try something new, like this tasty but nutritious carrot pudding, if they participated in making it.”
What You’ll Need
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp. flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2-quart baking dish.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and cook carrots for 15-20 minutes, until tender.
- Drain carrots, and puree in a blender until smooth.
- Add butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix well.
- Spread mixture into prepared baking dish, and bake 45 minutes.
Design An Origami Corner Bookmark
Courtesy Amanda Liebl, youth program director at the Boca Raton Public Library, this craft will inspire the whole family “to keep reading over the summer when you use a new corner bookmark that you make yourself.” Let your imagination run wild when finishing the design.
What You’ll Need
- Rectangular sheet of paper (8.5-by-11 inches works well), plus extra for decorating
- Scissors
- Markers
- Paste
Instructions
- Take the sheet of paper, and fold over 1 corner to create a triangle. (You can also use square origami paper.) Cut off the excess, and rotate your triangle so the long edge is at the bottom and the right angle faces up.
- Fold the lower right corner up to meet the top right-angled corner. Repeat for the left side.
- Fold these 2 back open. Flip down 1 of the top sheets, and crease.
- Fold the flaps you created back up, and tuck into the bookmark. Repeat for the other side.
- Decorate as your heart desires, using more paper, markers and paste. Liebl suggests creating a dragon to go with this year’s summer reading theme, Imagine Your Story. Give them as gifts, or trade them with friends!
Complete A Kid-Friendly Workout
Courtesy Angelica Casanas, a personal trainer in West Miami, this kid-friendly exercise routine is called the Boogie Woogie Workout. “Pretend you’re a personal trainer and that your child is your client for the day, providing feedback as you go. Next time, tweak it to their interests and to keep things fresh.”
What You’ll Need
- Upbeat music
- Lightweight exercise clothes
- Sneakers
- Plenty of room on a hard surface
Instructions
- Do 10 squats; 10 forward lunges, alternating legs; and then 10 bicycle crunches (do a crunch and touch your elbow to your opposite knee, switching each time). Repeat 2 more times.
- Do 20 burpees (from a standing position, go into a squat; place your hands on the floor, and jump your feet back to form a straight line with your body; jump your feet forward; reach your arms up, and jump; land, and return to a squat).
- Hold a plank position for 15 seconds. Repeat 2 more times.
Make A Profile Silhouette Selfie
Courtesy Claire Clum, director of education at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, this project was inspired by a 1934 self-portrait of the musician George Gershwin. “Try making your own side profile. This activity teaches about light, shade and shadow. When tracing the silhouette of the subject, get right down at the subject’s level so as not to distort their facial features.”
What You’ll Need
- Flashlight or lamp
- 2 pieces white construction paper
- 1 piece black construction paper
- Pencil
- Masking tape
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions
- Tape 1 piece white paper to the wall.
- Darken the room. Place the flashlight or lamp on a table. Shine the light at the paper.
- Place the subject close to the paper so their profile appears on the paper.
- Using the pencil, lightly trace a contour line around the silhouette onto the paper.
- Remove the paper from the wall, and make sure the line is smooth.
- Cut along the contour line. Place it on top of the black paper, trace around it and then cut out the shape from the black paper.
- Glue the black silhouette onto the second piece of white paper. Add your name and the date.
Build An Outdoor Hanging Terrarium
Courtesy Donald Smith, lifestyle director at Arden – South Florida’s first “agrihood” community, in Wellington – this activity is about quality time and fun. “For your child, their barometer of interest is synergic. Show them that fun in your home isn’t canceled. In fact, the fun is just getting started. The recipe to combating boredom is all at the heart.”
What You’ll Need
- Plastic hanging terrarium
- Succulent plant
- Decorative glass gems or small rocks
- Colored sand (2 colors recommended)
- 1-foot piece jute rope
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Tape
- Sheet loose-leaf paper
- Scissors
Instructions
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot, and gently rub away the soil from the roots. Reserve soil.
- Put 1 end of the jute rope through the hanger hole on the terrarium. Bring both ends of the jute rope together, and tie a knot. Fill the bottom of the terrarium with soil.
- Use your finger or a stick to make a small hole where your succulent will live. Place the succulent in the spot, and pat to secure in place.
- Using your spray bottle, spray the inside of the terrarium 6 or 7 times, providing moisture for your succulent.
- Using the loose-leaf paper and tape, make a funnel. Pour the colored sand inside the terrarium as desired.
- Place decorative glass gem or small rocks inside as desired. Hang terrarium outside in indirect light, and water sparsely. O