Have you ever wondered what to do with those old crayons?  One idea is to melt them all up into a super sized crayon.  We tried this a while ago and my four year old keeps asking to do it again!

What I learned: Do not use a favorite pan, you can spray pan or use foil lining.  You can also buy any shaped tins you would like to match a theme.  Wouldn’t it be fun to use flower shaped crayons at a spring themed party or Easter?

Here they are cooling down.

All you need:

OLD non-stick muffin pans

crayons

What to do:
Preheat your oven to 250

Peel the paper off the crayons

Break up crayons and place in muffin tins, this is the favorite part, mixina all different colors!

Place the muffin tins in the oven until the crayons melt

Let the new crayons cool

Remove the crayons and color away!

They are super fun to use on large paper.

Ingredients:
·       ¼ c cornstarch
·       ¼ c cold water
·       6-8 drops food coloring

Directions:
1.  Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small plastic bowl.
2.  Add food coloring & stir.
3.  Repeat with different colors.
4.  Paint (paint can be easily washed away with water)

This fun idea submitted by Teresa!

This bubble solution, which we call bubble juice at our house,  can be used with a bubble wand to make bubbles and create lots of entertainment for the children.   Please note that this solution contains ingredients that would be harmful to swallow.  So, I would use with the older children.

Ingredients:

7-10 Parts   water
1 Part dish detergent
Glycerin

Directions:

Combine 1-2 Tablespoons glycerin with ingredients.  Use a bubble wand to dip in solution and blow gently to make bubbles!

Glycerin can be found at a drugstore.

This recipe is a good one for the little ones, just in case they feel like tasting it!

Ingredients:

2 cups     flour

2 cups     water

2 TBLS    oil

1 cup        salt

2 tsp         cream of tartar

Food coloring and/or glitter, the color you desire to make.

Stir ingredients and place over medium heat in a pan. I like to use my large fry pan, it seems to cook more evenly.  Cook until the dough pulls away from the side of the pan and is not sticky.  Cool the dough and then knead thoroughly.  Store in plastic bag or airtight container.  The dough will keep for about three months unrefrigerated.

I like to double the recipe if we are planning for playdates or classrooms.

The play dough can be used for free play, making letters, shapes and number or small gifts for friends.

Ingredients:
·       ¼ c cornstarch
·       ¼ c cold water
·       6-8 drops food coloring

Directions:
1.  Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small plastic bowl.
2.  Add food coloring & stir.
3.  Repeat with different colors.
4.  Paint (paint can be easily washed away with water)

This fun idea submitted by Teresa!

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp unsweetened powder drink mix
1Tbsp warm water
Several small containers (muffin tin)

Directions:
Mix water & drink mix together in a small bowl.
Repeat several times using different flavors of drink mix.
Paint
Allow finished art to dry overnight before scratching and sniffing.

Ideas:
Create one of a kind greeting card or wrapping paper.

This idea submitted by  Teresa the  Super Mom!

You will need:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 cup instant nonfat dry milk*

*For milk allergies, you may substitute flour for the instant nonfat dry milk.

Mix together until smooth.  Of course, check for peanut allergies if using this with a class or other children.

Doing this activity for the first time with my two and four year old brought out their different personalities so clearly and humorously.  Little Lauren literally dove into the pudding and started body painting.  Her masterpiece never made it on the wall because it never dried and we left that thing out for a few days!  I was happy with my decision to try this outside.  So, use small bowls of pudding to give your little ones that like to get dirty.  As for my contemplative four year old, he dipped in a finger or two and made a few lines and thought that was enough for him and off to wash his hands!

I used pistachio pudding for St. Patrick’s Day but like the idea of vanilla so there are no nuts in it.

Pudding Paint Recipe:
Instant Vanilla Pudding
Food Coloring
Mix pudding according to directions
Add food coloring for desired color.
You can also use different flavors of pudding for different colors of paint.

Here is a video that shows you how to make homemade playdough. She adds color to the dough to use for a theme or holiday like green for St. Patrick’s Day.

You will need:

2 cups salt

2/3 cups water

1 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup cold water

Directions:

Stir salt and water in a saucepan over heat four to five minutes. Remove from heat and add cornstarch and cold water. Stir it until smooth; return to heat and cook until thick. Store in a plastic bag.

Use clay for sculpting animals, people and many other things, it is lots of fun for the children!