What you can make for kids to play with around the house

Follow these instructions to make fun toys for the kids (or adults!) to play with from the comfort of your own home.

• This simple, money-saving recipe is great for making children happy on a rainy afternoon, but it is also the basis of Christmas tree ornaments, beads and other sophisticated crafts.
• The recipe makes doughlike "clay" that bakes hard in the oven, and can be painted and coated with a craft varnish for a permanent and professional finish.

• 1 L (4 c) flour
• 250 ml (1 c) salt
• 375 ml (1 1/2 c) water

1. Preheat oven to 175ºC (350ºF). Mix ingredients together and knead for five minutes. You can divide the dough into portions and add drops of food colouring at this point, or model the white "clay" and paint the finished piece. Put unused clay into sealed plastic bags and use within four hours of mixing.

2. Place finished pieces on a cookie sheet and bake for one hour (until hard).

You can feel good about giving little artists fingerpaint that you make yourself from kitchen pantry staples that you know are safe — and washable.

• 125 ml (1/2 c) cornstarch
• 500 ml (2 c) cold water
• 6 small plastic containers with snap-on lids
• Food colouring kit

1. In a small pot, combine the cornstarch and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

2. Divide cornstarch mixture evenly among the containers. Put several drops of food colouring into each container and stir to distribute colours evenly.

• Bubbles are a great party starter for kids of all ages, and this easy recipe makes lots of bubbles.
• Use your imagination — you can create bubble blowers out of open-ended cookie cutters and empty juice cans with both ends cut out. Instead of blowing bubbles, hold these blowers and whisk them through the air to release streams of bubbles.

• 125 ml (1/2 c) dishwashing detergent
• 375 ml (1 1/2 c) water
• 10 ml (2 tsp) sugar
• 5 ml (1 tsp) glycerin

• In a medium bowl, slowly mix the ingredients, using a spoon or whisk to avoid foaming.
• Pour the mixture into shallow bowls, dip blowers into the bowls and wave them through the air to make big bubbles.