Summer break is practically here! Are you ready? When I talk to some parents, they are so excited that school is over and they have the chance to spend some more time with their kids at home! And then I talk to other parents who are... well, let's just say a little less excited to have the kids home all day ;). It can definitely be daunting to think about having all the kids home all day every day for 3 months- but having some fun activities up your sleeve can really be a lifesaver this summer! And what better place to start than the kitchen?

*Make a volcano. We all know the classic mix vinegar and baking soda trick- but make it a little extra special by creating an actual volcano model! Let your kids build a model from tinfoil, put a cup in the middle to hold the baking soda, and pour a little red dye in your vinegar for a much more realistic volcanic experience- kids love this one!

*Popsicles. If you don't have popsicle molds, GET SOME! Popsicles can be intense if you're mixing all kinds of fun ingredients (like pudding, cream, blueberries, and lemon zest!), but they can be as simple as you want! Mix up Kool-Aid, juice some oranges, even fill them with regular soda! Kids will just have a blast filling up the molds and waiting (im)patiently for the moment when they're finally ready to devour!

*Lemonade. Have you ever made lemonade from scratch? It's definitely a more intense process, but one that kids love- first, because they love lemonade, and second because there's so much they can help with! Juicing lemons, straining the pulp, mixing in the sugar; and it's definitely rewarding to drink something you made from scratch!

*Planting. If we're talking about rewarding things, we can't leave out gardening! Even if you live in a small apartment, you can easily find a small flower pot and grow something in your own kitchen! Basil is fun because you can snip off the leaves and use them to make delicious tomato grilled cheese sandwiches. My kids LOVE caring for their plants, and not only are they able to care for something and be entertained, it's teaching them a valuable skill for when they're older!

*Make fresh salsa. My kids tend to be on the pickier side when it comes to eating- but when we make homemade salsa or pico de gallo it's like they forget they don't like vegetables ;). They LOVE chopping up the veggies in our manual food processor, and they gulp down the chips and pico like it's going out of style! A fun activity that ends in lots of vegetable consumption is definitely a mom win in my book!

*Homemade slushies. This is another fun “sciency” experiment- you can actually make your own slushies just using your freezer, an ice cold glass and a bottle of soda! And it totally works! I wrote an article about it a couple years ago, but here's the link behind the science and the how-to if you're interested! https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/diy-slurpees/

*Make slime. It's all the rage these days- because what kid doesn't want to just put his hands in a bunch of slime?? There are so many recipes out there, but I found an edible one- because my almost 2-year old is crazy and I just wouldn't trust him with something made from laundry detergent!

Edible Slime

If you're wondering how to make edible slime you only really need 3 ingredients! This is an easy and safe slime recipe that you can eat and tastes great. Let your children create this one on their own and after some sticky fun they can have a treat when they're done. Best edible slime recipe ever.

Serving size: 1
Calories per serving: 90

Ingredients:
3/4 cup gummy bear candy (can separate into different colors if you want)
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
7 teaspoons powdered sugar
extra powdered sugar


Directions:

First put your gummy bears in a bowl. Then microwave in 10 second increments stirring in between until they are a thick liquid.

Carefully remove and add your corn starch and powdered sugar. Just 1 tsp. at a time stirring every time you add more until it becomes less sticky and cools down.

What takes the longest is waiting for it to cool. Just continue stirring the mixture. Stop once you reach the consistency you think will be good. Allow it to cool down enough to pick it up and knead it. Generally the measurements above will get it to the right consistency. You may need/want a bit more of either ingredient to get it there.

Once cooled, sprinkle powdered sugar on to your paper plate and dump edible slime on to plate.
Knead and play with it!

The powdered sugar will help prevent sticking but make sure they aren't wearing really nice clothing when making this ;)

*Make Playdough. A little different than slime- again, there are so many recipes you can find for this online- all depending on your needs and preferences. I like simple, so I found a recipe that just requires 3 ingredients!

Playdough

I have tried a hundred different play dough recipes but really wanted to try one that used no salt or cream of tartar! Check now how to make playdough without cream of tartar, flour, salt or bake! Easiest homemade playdough recipe with only 3 ingredients.

Serving size: 1
Calories per serving: 1,280

Ingredients:
1 cup shaving cream
2 cups cornstarch


Directions:

Stir the mixture of shaving cream and cornstarch to combine. Use your hands to knead the rest of the cornstarch into the dough. If the dough feels too sticky, add more cornstarch. If the dough feels like it's crumbling, add more shaving cream. Separate the dough into 6 equal amounts. In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to mix in food dye to each ball of dough.
Tip: For soft pastel color add less food dye, and for bright color add more food dye
Once the color is mostly mixed in, add a few pinches of cornstarch and knead the dough until the color is fully combined. Store in an airtight container.

There's so many fun things you can create in your very own kitchen- and you'll be creating memories as well, which makes it all worth it! How do you plan on keeping young ones entertained this summer? (Whether they're your own or your grandkids!) I'd love to hear your ideas below!