Marshmallows More Than S’mores

Marshmallows Are Great for Art!

Marshmallows have four grams of sugar each which is about one teaspoon of sugar. Four grams may be OK if you only eat just one. However, who eats just one or counts the calories around the campfire? Marshmallows can also be used for art projects and artsy recipes this time of the year when families have fresh marshmallows for campfires and s’mores.

  Marshmallows make a beautiful edible paint. All you’ll need are marshmallows, water, light corn syrup and food coloring to make this fun sweet paint.  It can be used to decorate cookies, fingers, bread, English muffins, paper, and more. Use clean water color brushes for painting.

Easy to Make

   You will need 1 cup packed marshmallows, ¼ cup water; 2-3 tablespoons light corn syrup, basic food coloring to make many colors, and little dishes. You will also need something to paint. Marshmallows on a sucker stick, toothpick, or popsicle stick work well. You can also use plain cookies like animal crackers, vanilla cookies, or lady fingers. 

Working With Marshmallows Is Fun

Bread or anything with that kind of a rather firm top will do. If you think the kids have had enough sugar, the marshmallow paint is similar to a puffy paint look on paper.

  Place the marshmallows in a microwave –safe bowl and heat on medium for 30 seconds.  They will puff up a bit.  Stir in the water and continue to microwave for an additional 30 seconds.  Stir well to let the heat melt the marshmallows fully. Stir until smooth.  Stir in light corn syrup to desired consistency.

  Divide the marshmallows into little containers and stir in a few drops of food coloring. Experiment with secondary colors like blue (cyan) and red (magenta).  You can make some secondary colors. Yellow and red make orange, blue (cyan) and yellow make green., red and blue make purple. Add plain white to lighten them up. Allow the mixtures to cool enough for children to handle.

Very Creative

  To paint use popsicle sticks. The marshmallow paint may be store in sealed containers several days at room 

Be Creative

temperature. The paint dries well enough to handle but will remain sticky.  Cookies will not be stackable.

  Children also enjoy making bouquets of the decorated marshmallow on a stick and placing them on a vase as flowers for a table decoration or a center of a cake.

  The icing can also be use on graham crackers for beautiful tile like cookies. It can be used to make decorations on graham cracker v- shaped triangle tents and rainbows on small graham cracker ginger bread houses.  Decorated cake doughnuts are also a hit. Older children can use finer brushes for detailed decorations with this sweet edible paint that has many possibilities for creativity on iced cakes and brownies. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com, wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos  

Helping Kids Tackle Cabin Fever

Outdoor Fun in Lots of Crusty Snow! 

This in-between-time may be the most difficult days of the year. One day we get a tease of sunshine. The next few days may be cold and snowy. Children and care givers can feel they absolutely must get outside and run around even for a short time. Here are suggestions for short bursts of outdoor play with crusty snow.

Snow Chunk Relay

  Since snow rarely is really good for snowballs, loosen snow chunks from crusty snow. Make a pile of about ten snow chunks for each player. Designate an area to drop off the chunks and follow a path to go back and forth until all of the chunks are moved to the new spot and a new geometric shape. If many adults and children are involved set up a course in the backyard for teams to run and pass a chunk of snow to each player. Each player runs along the course and hands the snow chunk to the next player. Tamp down the snow for little legs or hold hands with young ones so they won’t fall.

Snowball Roll Contest

   The object of the game is to make the biggest snow chunk during a designated time or when the players can no longer move their snow. Team up small children against adults or place one adult with each child. Show children how to use their boots to break up crusty snow. Arrange largest to smallest, if possible.

Snow Pile Hurdles

  Make piles of snow.  Then run and jump over the  piles.  Help young ones over the piles so no one is left out. When young children don’t need to use their hands to grasp 

So Many Games to Try

something, try putting warm adult mittens on their hands and over their jackets.  This will keep the snow off their wrists.

Snow Obstacle Course

  Make snow piles again and set up a course path so children may jump over, run around, crawl through, roll, walk backwards, and hop around the next.  Help little ones so all are successful.

Snowball Target Throw

  Provide some real targets for snowball or snow chunk throwing.  Draw a target in the snow, lay down a hula-hoop, throw into a large plastic storage container, or aim at a tree. Let children know that they can choose their distance to be successful.

Buried Treasure

Many Treasures to Look Out For

 This is a good game just before returning inside for a snack. Make a pile of snow. Designate one person to hide 10 colorful plastic objects in a pile of snow that has been shoveled for the purpose.  This kind of pile is easy to dig through. Kneel in a circle around the pile and dig until all of the objects have been found.

For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons.

Helping with Impromptu Child Care

  

What's In Your Cupboards and Drawers?

Preschool children are coming in half an hour for child care. No problem. You’re always well stocked. There are many educational toys found in your kitchen. Open up your low kitchen cupboards and drawers. They are full of mostly safe playthings for children and hide anything that is not safe.

   The first go-to toys are cans. Children may make low towers on the floor or higher ones if they have heavy shoes. Cans may be arranged to make houses and castles, or they may add folded heavy paper to make bridges.

  If they have brought figures, cars, or a few stuffed animals they can play raceway, house, or action figure adventures.  The activity will give you time

Empty the Cupboards

 to wash the can cabinet you have been putting off and get down on the floor to play, too.

Random Containers

  Your other drawers may hold plastic containers and lids.  They make excellent puzzlers.   Are there tops and bottoms that fit? If you have some that do not make a pair, they can be used for sandbox, beach play, or recycling later. They can turn the containers upside down and make a few drums using a wooden spoon to pound for a few minutes.

Empty the Cupboards

   Children can gather all of the containers and help set chairs and guard chairs next to the sink. Fill the sink or dish pan half way and add a few drops of soap and a cloth. It’s time for washing, rinsing, and drying dishes for about 15 minutes.

   While supervising the washing you can empty another drawer of wooden spoons, spatulas, other utensils. and gadgets. Double check for sharp edges on items like potato peelers and set those aside. You can explain the purpose for some of the odd looking gadgets as you add them to the washing water.

   While adding the items ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”  If not, out it goes into the donation bag.

Children Have Fun Filling Containers

 By now you should have cleaned, put away and culled at least four drawers, double dried these dishes, and have wet children.

   You can scoop up the little wet people, throw their clothes in the dryer, and head for the bathroom. There should just enough time for a warm bath with a few of the containers you are not going to use.

  Children have fun filling different sizes of containers. It’s similar to filling cups to equal a gallon.  Which containers will float? How many action figures will it take to sink a container boat? Teach children to check for hand and toe wrinkles. Then they will help decide it’s time to get out of the tub. put on warm dry clothes, and have a snack. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and 

wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Playing with Snow Indoors

Cold Snowy Days Can be Stressful

For the almost 40 % of grandparents and other relatives providing child care, cold snowy days can be stressful. To relieve that stress young children may enjoy creating snowmen inside with cheap materials found in the kitchen. Quiet conversations while doing activities with adults also help nurture resilient children.
  To make homemade poster paint for making winter scenes, mix ½ cup flour and 1-tablespoon salt. Add them very slowly into a saucepan filled with 2 cups water.  Whisk while mixing.  Cook and whisk on medium heat to avoid lumps.  Remove when this mixture looks like smooth white paint. Add 1-tablespoon clear liquid dish detergent for a smoother glossy paint.
Then use brushes or Q-tips to paint thin- coat snowmen on colored paper, a cookie pan, mirror, or window.
Share Painting Pictures
  Children may take want to take a picture and send a winter message of love to cousins or other grandparents far away.
  Cut out white paper circles or use coffee filters and color a few a few Frosties. Cover them with white glue or a thin mixture of flour and water glue and sprinkle with salt for glitter. Margarita salt, cookie decorations, and sugar also work.

Take Pictures & Capture the Moment

Color a scene on computer paper, and glue on the snowmen.
  You can also glue on pillow stuffing, cotton balls, or make -up cotton wipe snow men on a calendar winter scene and start crossing off the days until Valentine’s Day
  Gather a cookie pan full of snow, and make a winter scene with small toys. Try making little snowmen before the snow gets too slushy.
  Shaving cream also makes winter snow scenes. Children can write messages in the snow with their fingers. Warn children not to eat or place near their eyes.  All this will make a mess and children will love it but it’s an easy clean up while you gather at the sink to sing Frosty the Snowman.
  If you are hungry, make snowmen out of bread or English muffins, cover with nut butter and decorate with Cheerios and chocolate chips.
Indoor Snowball Fights

View the Scene to Imagine Indoor Snowballs

When children need to be active again about every 30 or 60 minutes, roll up some newspaper half sheets reinforced with a little duct or cellophane tape and have an indoor snowball fight. Couches, chairs, laundry baskets, or cardboard boxes can be turned into fortresses. 
   If the snowball fight gets out of hand, switch to snowball basketball. Place a laundry basket a reasonable distance so all young ages can make baskets and practice adding up the points. Then there is snowball bowling, snowball baseball, tennis, volleyball, football, toss, hide and seek the snowballs, and find the snowballs with flashlights in the dark.
 Photos: Fran Darling: fdarling fotos
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest

Come Indoors and Make Play dough: Video Version

Just in time for all the holiday fun! Make play dough for fun, learning, and great conversation. Watch our Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL1WpveL8jY for all the ways simple play dough making and playing benefits your children.....

Here are more: Handy Recipes 

 Keep these around the house so you are always prepared for unexpected weather or visitors. 

  

    No Cook Play dough

Mix together: 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup salt in a separate bowl. Mix together ½ cup water, 3 drops food coloring, and 5 drops liquid detergent. Add liquid to dry mixture slowly and knead until desired consistency. Do not ingest. Keep refrigerated in a tight plastic container. It lasts for about a month.

    Clay Dough

This dough can be used to make small sculptures, garden stones, vases for dry flowers, and paperweights. Mix 2 cups salt and 2/3 cup water in a pan. Heat mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. Remove from heat. Mix 1 cup cornstarch and ½ cup cold water in a separate bowl. Stir quickly into the salt water and mix well. The dough will be stiff. Allow to dry 3-4 days.  Add food coloring to the water mixture, if desired. Dried sculpture can be painted. Look for animal, people, and car pictures to help children use their imagination. This mixture must be used immediately.

  Coat any container or pie plate with Vaseline or cooking spray for use as a mold. Press the dough into the mold. Add old jewelry or fake gemstones into the mold first.  Then add the dough. After thorough drying gently remove from the mold.

    Bumpy Texture Clay

  Use this dough for doorstops, summertime garden stepping-stones, and flower pots. They will crack if left over the winter. Mix 1 ½ cup flour and ½ cup salt. Add 6 tablespoons water. Knead to create the clay. This clay must be used immediately. The dried clay may be painted and spayed with polyurethane (adults only).

    Cotton Puff Dough

This is so simple. Mix 1 cup flour with 1 cup water to make a paste. Add 1 bag cotton balls and mix thoroughly. Scoop up a handful and let excess fall away. Form into desired animal or other shapes on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees. Paint when cooled.

    Never Fail Play dough

This is the recipe used in the video. Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and 1 tablespoon cream of tartar. Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil with 1 cup water colored with food coloring. Cook in a 3 qt. saucepan over medium heat until mixture sticks together. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Knead. Store in plastic bags.

How Does This Help Children?

  Children who are read to twice a day and played with often, enter school with 20,000 words instead of a 3,000 word vocabulary.

For more easy fun activities see the our book “Learning Through the Seasons” at museums, bookstores, and http://grandparentsteachtoo.org  and listen to podcasts on WNMU Radio 90 at: http://wnmufm.org/learningthroughtheseasons.  

Great News! Podcasts On the Air at WNMU Public Radio 90

Starting this month, our Learning Through the Seasons activities for your children and grandchildren can be heard on your Public Radio dial...90.1 FM. WNMU broadcasts from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI. Our Podcasts will be On Air every Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 and every Saturday morning at 8:30. Give a listen.

You can also go to the WNMU Podcast webpage to hear any of the posted audio activities. If you are looking for quiet, active, science, reading activities all set in the context of social interactions with family and friends. Much to enjoy along the way, while you gather those great ideas to try with your grandchildren.

As always, you can find all our links to media, articles and podcasts on our GrandParents Teach, Too web site. Check us out!

We Are Now on youtube -- See Your Favorite Activities!!

After a bit of practice and technical trials....you can view many of our favorite activities on youtube.

See live demonstrations of Water Play: Does It Sink or Float?; Making Play "Sand"; Make a 3D Travel Map; Safe Hockey; Making Bubbles...all activities that help children learn and expand vocabulary at the same time. Support children through your interactions, as you will see in our many examples that build confidence and self-esteem.

Hope you enjoy them all...send us your comments and ideas on any of these fun activities.

For more ideas go to our Grandparents Teach, Too Blog: http://grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com/ and listen to Learning Through the Seasons
http://www.wnmufm.org/learningthroughtheseasons.

Podcasts on WNMU Public Radio 90:

Enjoy all your special sharing times with your children and grandchildren!