Hobbies And Interests
Puzzles
Homemade puzzles are very simple to create and require few materials. Select a piece of cardboard (this can be recycled from any cardboard box). Cut the cardboard into whatever shape you want your finished puzzle to be. Draw or paint a picture on one side. For a more complex puzzle, you could create a different picture on each side of the cardboard. Cut the finished picture into desired shapes and it is ready to re-assemble.
Beanbag Toss
The beanbag toss is a beloved children's game. This variation uses materials most people have in their homes. First construct your beanbags using snack-sized, resealable sandwich bags and dried beans, rice, sand or dirt. Fill the bags and seal. Next find several bucket-sized containers. The containers do not need to be the same. Line up your containers. Draw a line several feet from them. Have each child throw the beanbag into the first container, second, third and so on; one time for each container or until the child misses. Points are achieved for each beanbag into each container. Because of the slight possibility of a beanbag opening, it is best to play this game outdoors.
Table Shuffleboard
Quick to set up, table shuffleboard only requires recycled bottle caps and masking tape. Place the tape on your table in the form of a rectangle and separate the rectangle into three sections. The closest section is worth 10 points, the center is worth 25 and the farthest section is worth 50 points. Use another piece of tape at the opposite end of the table to mark your shoot line. Players take turns attempting to slide their inverted bottle cap within the rectangle. If their cap slides off the table they loose 25 points and if they successfully push their opponent off the table their opponent looses 25 points. The first player to reach 250 points wins the game.
Cotton Ball Carry
This game is fun and provides some laughs for those watching. For each team of children you will require two buckets, one large cooking spoon, a blindfold and a bag of cotton balls. Place two buckets approximately six feet apart and fill one bucket with cotton balls. Have each blindfolded child use the spoon to scoop as many cotton balls as possible and carry them to the empty bucket. Allow each child one trip. The team that carries the most cotton balls to the other end wins.