Play Ideas in The Kitchen

Here are some play ideas from several different families. These all sound like fun!

Good Play Dough

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tblsp. cooking oil

1 cup water

1/2 teas. food coloring

Whisk mixture until smooth. Cook in heavy pan over medium heat. It will cook into a ball, but continue to cook until it's not sticky when you pinch it. Remove from heat and knead well. Let cool before storing in plastic bag in refrigerator.

Flour Paste

1 cup flour

1/2 cup water

Add oil of cloves or winter green oil.

Combine and mix until creamy. For more durable paste add 1/2 cup flour to 1 cup boiling water. Stir over low heat until thick and shiny. Store in covered container.

Paper Mache

Put 2 inch strips of newspaper in a shallow pan. Add water and let stand overnight until gooey. Mix in flour sauce (as above) glue.

Suggestions for paper mache shapes.Blow up balloon. Cover balloon with one layer of paper mache. OR make shape out of chicken wire or other ridged structure and cover with one layer of gooey paper strips. Let dry. Cover with second layer, let dry. Cover with third layer, depending on how strong you are wanting the end product to be, such as a pinata, or mask. After dry, using a pin, pop the balloon. Cut small hole in to fill with goodies or get balloon out.

Banana wheat germ snacks:

Mix equal parts milk and honey. Dip banana, then roll in toasted wheat germ. Serve with toothpicks.

Banana dunk:

Cut bananas into chunks. Dunk in coconut, chopped nuts.

Serve banana slices between 2 graham crackers

Banana Pops:

In hot weather, popsicles of all kinds are a big hit. But what is a mother to do when the majority of store bought popsicles have too much sugar, dyes or additives?

Well, there are not many more pure foods than bananas. One of our favorites is frozen banana pops. They are very easy.

Peel banana (preferably not too ripe, not too green.)

Dip in lemon or orange juice to prevent browning.

Stick a popsicle stick into one end of the banana.

Set the banana gently in a tall, plastic tumbler, then place in the freezer.

When frozen, remove and let sit 5 -10 minutes (if the children can wait that long!)

These banana pops can then be rolled in a variety of toppings such as wheat germ, finely chopped nuts, melted carob chips, strawberry or other fruit spread, you name it!

Cornstarch Dough

Mix 1/2 cup cornstarch

1 cup salt

1/2 cup water

Boil until thick. Cool and use.

Ants On A Log 

Fill celery with peanut butter cream cheese or cottage cheese, or a mixture of cream cheese and crushed pineapple. Dot with raisins (ants).

Soap Flake Paint

Whip large amount of soap flakes (such as Ivory) into a small amount of water. Finger paint on brightly colored construction paper. Let dry laying down.

Baker's Clay

4 cups un-sifted flour

1 cup salt

1 1/2 cup water

Mix thoroughly with hands. Knead 4-6 minutes. Make shapes like teddy bears, wreaths, or use cookie cutters. Bake in 350 degree oven until light brown. Baked and cooled pieces can be decorated with paints or magic markers. After paint dries, consider spraying or shellacking pieces for longevity.

Kabobs:

Try an assortment of fruits and cheeses on a toothpick or a thin pretzel stick. Pineapple and banana chunks - Pineapple chunks and raisins- Apple cubes and banana chunks - Apple chunks and raisins - Strawberries, banana and blueberries - Orange and grapefruit sections - Cantaloupe and pineapple chunks - Dates and bananas - Grapes and banana or cheese - Cherry tomatoes and cheese cubes - Pineapple chunks and cheese cubes - Mandarin oranges and pineapple.

Finger Painting

1 cup dry laundry starch

2 1/2 cups boiling water

1 cup soap flakes

Stir in soap flakes and mix while hot. Add color (powder paints or food coloring). Tear off sheet of finger painting paper and dip in water. On smooth table surface or clean cookie sheet place sheet of paper and smooth out bubbles. Place scant dollop of paint on paper and let them paint away! Peel off paper and hang to dry on clothes line with clothes pins or tape.

Peanut Butter and Pretzel Log Cabins

Using 2 inch pretzels, and a smooth brand of peanut better such as Skippy, build log cabins.

 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter

1/2 honey

1 cup powdered milk

Knead until smooth and then create wonderful things! Very tasty. A great alternative for those of our little ones who can't seem to keep anything (including the salty play dough) out of their mouths.

Bead Dough

1 1/2 teasp. of un-flavored gelatin

1/4 cup of cold water

1 box of powdered sugar

Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small heatproof bowl. Set in pan of hot water and heat, stirring until the gelatin dissolves. Cool. Place two cups of powdered sugar in bowl. Stir in gelatin mixture until blended. Gradually add remaining sugar. Turn out on pastry board and knead until smooth. Wrap in plastic until ready to use. It hardens fast if exposed to air. If it is too stiff to model, add several drops of hot water. If it is too sticky, add a little more powdered sugar. Divide the dough and add food coloring as desired.

Roll small balls and place on knitting needle to let dry. After dry, string with cereals for variety.

Graham Cracker Constructions

Can be held together with frosting glue:

3 egg whites

1 box powdered sugar

1/3 teas salt

1 tabls. of lemon juice

Lightly beat together the egg whites, four tabls. of the powdered sugar and salt with a electric mixer. As the mixture thickens, add the remainder of the powdered sugar and then the lemon juice. Beat until it holds its shape and stands in stiff peaks. Food color may be added. Do not beat in a plastic bowl and do not store in the refrigerator. Mix only as needed.