Staving off the beast of boredom

      Feisty Pants is off at the movies and doing some shopping. Having a blast without those annoying parents to tell her what to do, or worse, what NOT to do.  I hope she is having a great time and not doing heroin or picking up fast boys or doing tequila shots.  You never know, she went with her teacher and nurse for the outing. (A dedicated special ed teacher and a private duty nurse?  Sounds like a wild bunch to me.)  But I thought I would take advantage of the relative quiet and look up some things for her to do when the next dead zone hits.  The next one at the end of the summer session of school is three weeks this year. Usually Feisty Pants is bored stiff by the end of the fourth day.  By the end of two weeks she is certain we are trying to kill her with boredom.   Joyously, I have three weeks to fill.

                   So, to that end these next couple of posts or so will be about things you can do to hopefully entertain and provide mental stimulation to any bored kid.   I haven't managed to get these organized by age or activity this time.  Mostly because it's hot and we are all cranky.  Besides rules are for squares and mean old fart parents or so says FP.  So, eff it, here they are, in no particular order.  And if you have any better ones, show off by sharing them in the comments.  You have nothing to lose but your kid's eyerolls and whines of "but there's nothing to do."

Birdseed ornaments: You will need:a loaf of thick stale bread (think day old french bread), peanut butter, birdseed, twine. (optional: cookie cutters)

To make: Cut one inch think slices of bread. (You could be all fancy schmancy and use the cookie cutter to shape them)  Spread with peanut butter.  Sprinkle very liberally with birdseed.  Chill until firm.  Flip over and repeat on back side.  Hang with twine from trees.

Easy paper lantern- you can do these two ways, simply make the paper lantern and use as a decoration OR go all the way and make them actually light up.  You will want adult (or at least, older kids) to supervise that.

You will need: Construction paper or thick gift wrap about the same size, glue, scissors.  (Stop there if you want the really easy version) empty tuna or cat food cans (Need I say clean?) battery powered tea lights.

To make: Fold the paper in half length wise and crease.  While folded, cut slits from the center to about an inch from the edge.  Make the slits about an inch apart. Unfold paper and glue short end together, forming a tube.  Glue the bottom of  the tube to the can.  (So the can forms the bottom of the lantern)   Glue another strip of paper (1/2 inch wide by six inches long) to the top for a handle.  Drop in a tea light to light.

Summer snow- This one is messy so of course the kids will like it.

You will need: Baking soda, shaving cream. BIG bowl or bucket.

To make: Empty can of shaving cream into bowl.  Add about 2 cups of baking soda.  Stir in slowly until you get a consistency you like.  Take outside and annoy the neighborhood with snowballs.  (You're welcome neighbors! )