share | YOUR GREAT IDEAS
Q&A
How our readers make family life more fun. 1.
<
WE ASKED: HOW DO YOU CLEAN AND ORGANIZE KIDS’ CREATIVE MESSES? YOU ANSWERED …
look what you did!
To build the track: Hahn’s husband traced a slot car racetrack template onto ⅛-inch mediumdensity fiberboard and cut out the pieces. After applying three coats of magnetic paint, he added vinyl lane markers. Then he attached the track with silicone caulk and finishing nails.
LIFT UP THOSE LEGOS
Before the kids play with Legos, I put a bedsheet on the floor. When the kids are done, it’s easy to lift the sheet and dump the toys back into their buckets. If any get away, I put panty hose over the vacuum neck. It lets me suck up strays but blocks them from going into the machine. MAKE GLITTER DOUGH
To clean up leftover glitter messes, I tell my kids, ages 3 and 5, to use their play dough like a stamp. So at the same time they’re cleaning, they’re making “glitter play dough”—a kid favorite. Genifer Reid Highland, CA
SEPARATE YOUR SUPPLIES
We use a clear plastic shoe organizer to hold all our arts and crafts supplies. This system works well to keep things like scissors up high yet visible for my older kids, and everything else in an easy-to-find (off the table) spot.
1. ROOM TO MOVE For our son’s third birthday, my husband surprised him with a transportationthemed room, complete with a magnetic race car track on the wall. We glued magnets to the bottom of his toy cars so that he could race them around his room. Alina Hahn Valparaiso, IN Safety reminder: Magnets are dangerous if swallowed. Take care around small children.
3. 2. 3. DOLL DRESSER
My kids like to make toy soaps. We place small plastic toys in a silicone soap mold. With my help, they melt glycerin soap base, color it, and pour it over the toy in the mold. When it’s dry, they gently press on the mold, and ta-da! They’ve got a fun, pop-arty bar of soap.
Using the lower section of a bookcase, my 6-yearold and I made her dolls their very own closet. We placed a spring curtain rod under one shelf for hanging clothes, then used the space above and below for accessories and shoes. With everything organized and visible, she plays with her dolls more now and can easily keep it all neat.
Rebecca Green Washington, DC
Laura Axler Madison, NJ
2. GREAT D.I.Y. GIFT
Lisa Pace Abingdon, IL
SEND US YOUR IDEAS SEP T EMBER 2015
14
How do you make family life more fun? E-mail your great ideas and photos to ideas.familyfun@meredith.com. If we use your submission, we’ll pay you $100.
ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK
Amy Tatlock Charleston, ME
