Running out of "summer fun" ideas?

Every parent dislikes summer — to a degree. If your kids are like Chad’s, “I’m bored” is an everyday statement. But don’t feel like you need to over spend with camps, parties and vacations to keep your kids content. There are plenty of DIY activities you can do around the house to keep them busy — enlist their help to create these crafts and you’ll have the whole summer spent!
 
Recycle your broken crayons into brand-new ones. Just peel the wrappers off and break the crayons into small pieces. Put them in a muffin tin and bake in a low oven until they’ve melted. Let them cool and pop them out for a rainbow of coloring fun. TIP: Mix and match for “rainbow” crayons, or keep like-colors together to make a giant saucer of yellow or green hues!
Give any small table a fresh new look—and a second life—with a coat of chalkboard paint. Simply apply a coat with a brush or spray can, gather some chalk, and let the nonstop creativity ensue. Bring the fun indoors by painting a bedroom wall with the same paint. TIP: sand the area well with a high-grit sand paper before applying the paint. And if you don’t have a table to spare, you can always build a simple one with the kids!
With a little ingenuity, you can turn an old cabinet, entertainment center, or dresser into a play kitchen. Create a fun back splash, and add a shelf, towel rack, and drawer pulls, and your burgeoning chef will feel right at home. This project is more on the involved side, but well worth the time/money investment. This is a piece you can use for years! TIP: If you don’t like the bulky toy look, match the piece to your home decor. It will blend right in!
With just a Sharpie and an oven, you can personalize a teapot or mug with any pattern, quote, or design you want! Draw a design with the Sharpie and then place the teapot into the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to let it cool before you start brewing your tea! TIP: Try decorating white plates with the kids instead. They can even draw out meals or portion sizes to help with healthy eating choices!
A small container or window box is just the right size to introduce kids to the basics of planting. If your kids are like mine, they already love to dig in the dirt, but to help keep everyone on task, make sure you have all your tools and supplies ready to go when you start your project. Over time, your kids will enjoy a real sense of ownership in watching these plants and flowers grow. TIP: To make it more personalized, you can build the box yourself, or buy one they can decorate ahead of time!