WFMW: "Mom, I'm Bored!"

"Only boring people get bored!"

That's what my mom used to say, anyway. So, of course, that's what I hear myself saying to my kids when I hear, "Mom, I'm bored!" Although that's not something I've heard them say much over the years, because by the time they finish that sentence a math book, toilet brush, Swiffer duster or Bible has been thrust into their hand.

This is "Mom, I'm Bored!" week at WFMW. It didn't take me long to think of something (besides the toilet brush and the Swiffer) that keeps boredom at bay at our house.

A few years ago I bought a book called "The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions." I thought it looked like something we might enjoy. I had no idea. One day, I asked the to look through it and mark some of the concoctions they thought looked fun. Here's what our book looks like now... Do you see all of the post-it markers sticking out all over? We have enjoyed this book to death!




We have made the spray sidewalk chalk (pictured), used the salt dough recipe for our salt maps, made numerous batches of silly putty, volcanoes, coffee play dough, flavored lip gloss, and so many others I can't remember them all. I just picked up the book to thumb through it to remind myself, and the cover fell right off! It has been well-loved! Recently I ordered Super Science Concoctions, but there is also an Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions 2 . While I was searching for the title on Amazon just now, I came across Kid Concoctions of Biblical Proportions which ties in Bible themes. (That one is currently residing in my Amazon shopping cart.) Apparently there is a whole series of these books. There's even a Kid Concoctions website. Fun!

One thing I like about the book is that it uses common, inexpensive ingredients and household objects. When the kids decided which ones they wanted to do, I made a list and went to Walmart and the Dollar store and stocked up on what they would need, and then kept it all together so it wouldn't be a big deal when we decided to make something.

So, for some relatively cheap, somewhat educational, boredom-busting fun this summer... try "Kid Concoctions." It works for us!

For more ideas, visit Rocks In My Dryer.