By Tina Scott

In this fast-paced world of electronics, cyberspace and jets roaring overhead, sometimes it’s nice to take the opportunity to crank it down a notch or two and return to simple living; back to a time when an empty cardboard box was major entertainment. Entertaining used to be easy – walk down to the furniture store and grab a box, or a few chairs and a blanket would do. Your children had an instant playhouse, or car, or whatever else their imaginations led them to discover.

We think our children need complicated toys and that maybe an electronic gadget will help our child become smarter or at least better entertained. It’s not true. So, if you’re like me and you’ve noticed a lack of creative thought in your resident youth, maybe it’s time to take a step back in time and let them experience what it was like to live in the ‘good old days’.

As a child, I loved going to California and playing at the beach. That’s not always possible, but if you have a sandbox available, you can have the next best thing. Add water to the (clean) sandbox until it’s fairly damp like beach sand. Bring out the paper cups and some spoons or spatulas for patting the sand, and have a family sand-castle competition. Be sure to wear your swim suits so you can take turns hosing each other off afterward. It’s amazing how excited the kids get when they see mom and dad get down and dirty with them. Later, serve your favorite summer fruit for dessert along with some ice water or another cold drink.

A snowball fight in July could be a real hit with the family. Of course there’s no snow anywhere around, so you’ll need to improvise. Let your children help wad pages of old newspapers into balls, and then when you each have enough, you can either have a free-for-all, or divide into teams. The best part is that these snowballs can be recycled or re-used.

An outdoor movie night is reminiscent of the outdoor movie theaters. It requires a laptop computer with a DVD player. For the location, you can be as adventurous as time allows. It can be as simple as setting up in the back yard with a blanket or your sofa to sit on, or you could take the family to a favorite nearby spot and watch the movie there. Either way, it’s almost like going to the drive-in theater. You might have to explain to the kids that in the olden days, drive-ins weren’t only for fast food restaurants, but on your way out the door, remember that no movie is ever as fun without the treats.

Remember, quality family time isn’t about spending money, it’s about spending time together and making fun memories. But if you’re tired of being outside, try homemade Silly Putty, Flarp, or Oobleck.
Each recipe provides hours and days of gooey fun and use ingredients you may already have on hand. The food coloring is optional, but the fun is mandatory! Be sure to play in a safe place away from carpeting.

Silly Putty (our kids gave this to their friends for Christmas one year.)
2 TBSP liquid starch
2 TBSP white glue (such as Elmer’s)
Tempera paint for color
Mix and enjoy. This is softer than store-bought, so leave it out for a half hour before using. Store in small plastic container with lid, or a Ziploc-type sandwich bag.

Flarp
8 oz. white glue
1 C. water
1 C. warm water
1 ½ teaspoon Borax powder
Tempera paint
Pour glue into a large bowl. Add water and blend. Then add paint and mix well. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together Borax and warm water until dissolved, then slowly pour Borax solution into the glue mixture stirring continually for 2 minutes. Knead with hands until smooth and stretchy.

Oobleck
1 ½ C water
16 oz. box cornstarch
Food coloring
1/8 C water
Put 1 ½ C water and food coloring into a bowl. Add entire box of cornstarch. Pour 1/8 C water over cornstarch. Swirl and tip the bowl to level the contents and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover your table with paper, and let the kids dig in for fun.