Frugal Quick Tip: Build your own 'Lunch Buddy'

I read an article in a recent Parent's Magazine about the importance of creativity for your child both while she is little, but also in the workforce years down the road.  Instead of just slapping their lunch on a plate, take a quick second to arrange it in a face pattern.  Talk about frugal fun. 

The girls had a blast eating their 'lunch buddies'.  They would name a body part, eat it, then shriek, "I ate her nose!!!!"  Laughter immediately followed.  The gremlins would rearrange the food to try to keep it a complete face as long as possible.

Do Something Constructive: Paper Plate Puzzles

 

 

Are you sick of your current puzzle selection or do you not have many puzzles to select from? Try this time-burning afternoon activity. Make your own puzzles out of paper plates!

Your budding artist will enjoy first decorating the paper plate. Decorating options are endless from standard crayons to a more elaborate glitter/glue decor. Obviously the latter will take a bit longer because it will have to dry before the puzzle conversion stage.

After your tot is satisfied with the appearance of his or her paper plate, have an adult (or supervise your child with safety scissors) convert the paper plate into a puzzle! You can make the edges male/female like in an adult puzzle. Or, you can cut the pieces in zig-zags or wavy edges or a combo of many different shapes.

Last but not least, after the puzzle is all cut up, sit down together to put your child's masterpiece together! After a few minutes or days or whenever your preschooler is over her creation, simply recycle!

Do Something Constructive: Pretzel Fun

I believe there is a time and a place for playing with food. Dinner at The White House is probably not the time or the place. But, snack time on a long Thursday afternoon is the perfect time to try something different with a mundane snack food...Pretzels!

An excerpt from Wikipedia about pretzels, "There are numerous accounts on the origin of the looped pretzels as well as the origin of the name. Most of them agree that they have religious and/or Christian backgrounds and were invented by monks. According to The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, in 610 AD "...an Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little rewards")". However, no source is cited to back up these details."

Here are some fun ideas to make the most of your pretzels:

• Make your own using this easy recipe. You could also consider doing it in an experimental fashion like the author.
• Use pretzel sticks to make letters such as A, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, T, V, W, X, Y, and Z!
• Put pretzel sticks in peanut butter sandwiches to simulate a cake with candles. Sing happy birthday to the lucky kid, and encourage him or her to 'blow out the candles'.
• Tuck two pretzel sticks under your top lip and let them lay over the bottom lip to fashion pretend fangs.
• Draw a clock on a piece of paper. Use pretzel sticks to form the hands of the clock. Have your older children practice telling time.
• Spread cream cheese between two mini pretzel twists for a fun sandwich.
• Try different dipping sauces such as mustard, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and yogurt. Have your child rank their favorite to least favorite using a numbered system.

The possibilities are endless! Let me know what fun ideas you come up with!