Boredom busters: What to do when there's nothing to do

"I'm bored. There's nothing to do." It's a phrase every parent has heard, sometimes on a daily basis. With the holidays behind us and spring still so far ahead, Columbus Parent Magazine has teamed up with local experts to bring weary parents boredom busters for long, lazy winter days. From nature-inspired craft projects courtesy of MetroParks and toddler games from Columbus State's Early Childhood Development Department, to COSI's recipe for Flubber and engaging art projects from Brighter Minds Media, these ideas will not only keep the kids active, but also keep you from hearing "I'm bored," for at least a little while longer.

For babies-preschoolers (And even some older children)

• n Tape bubble wrap on the floor and dance on it (with or without music).
• n Paint the bubble wrap, put paper on top and make a print.
• n Conduct experiments with ice and snow to observe melting.
• n Bring in ice or snow for a sensory experience.
• n Fill a spray bottle with food coloring or liquid watercolors and go outside to spray paint the snow.
• n Make music with wooden spoons on pots and pans and have a parade.
• n Grab plastic containers and lids and let children match the container with the correct lid. (It's a great cognitive activity and fine motor skill exercise).
• n Experiment with sink and float. (Try crayons in a clear container. Some will float and some will sink, depending on the amount of wax in each. Let older preschoolers predict what will happen and then test their theories.)

-Activities courtesy of Melanie Adams, faculty, Early Childhood Development Department, Columbus State Community College

Nature activities for preschoolers-school-age children

• n Paint or draw scenes from nature on construction paper to create placemats.
• n Using a dessert-sized paper plate turned upside down, make a turtle shell or other animal body. Cut and paste on a head and legs.
• n Make a caterpillar or spider out of egg carton sections. Use pipe cleaners for antennae and legs.
• n Take a walk outside with your child. Ask her to experience nature using all five senses. (Try something from the pantry, such as dried basil, for the taste portion.)
• n Fill a water bottle with colored water, glitter, plastic hearts, and other objects to create a liquid Valentine. Close cap tightly.

-Activities courtesy of Barry Orahood, environmental educator, MetroParks

Fun with science, any age (with adult supervision)

• n Mix three parts cornstarch with two parts water to make Oobleck, a substance that behaves like a liquid until smacked. Kids hit the Oobleck expecting it will splash, but it doesn't-it's become more of a solid.
• n Make Flubber by mixing 3/4 cup warm water and 1 cup school glue. Next, mix 2 teaspoons Borax with 1/2 cup warm water. Add Borax mix to the first mixture. Add food coloring or bath tub color tabs to color the Flubber.
• n Make homemade PlayDoh. Mix four cups flour and one cup of salt. Add 1 1/2 cups of hot water. If mixture is too sticky, add more salt. Add food coloring or paint with water colors.

Arts and crafts for older kids

• n Assemble an emergency car kit. Include items such as a first aid kit, tissues, spare change/money, insurance card, gas can, maps, jumper cables, sand, a blanket, flashlight, bottled water, and any other extras you can imagine.
• n Create an octopus from a toilet paper roll. Cut eight legs of equal length from one end of the tube. Use a pencil to roll each leg to curl the "tentacles" upward. Finish by drawing eyes and gluing paper circles to the underside of each leg.
• n Build your own snow globe. For complete instructions, go to www.columbusparent.com.

Amber Stephens is a Columbus-area freelance writer and editor. Author of the book, Kissing in Columbus, she is also the mother of two young children.