Programs

Step 1: If you have a tent, clear some space, and set it up inside your living room. If you don’t have a tent, let your creativity show by making one out of sheets or blankets.

Step 2: Make your own nighttime stars by hanging holiday lights or drawing some on paper, cutting them out, and hanging or taping them up. Safely keep a candle lit, or make a pretend campfire out of paper and sticks.

Step 3: Gather together with your family, tell stories, sing songs, eat snacks, or watch a movie. Sleep under your stars in your tent, next to your campfire, and enjoy the memories you’re making.

What You Need: Two toilet paper rolls, tape, yarn or string, markers, stickers, etc.

• Step 1: Save two toilet paper rolls, or cut a paper towel roll in half, grab some tape, yarn, markers, stickers, and any other decorations you want to use.
• Step 2: Tape the two tubes together with the yarn under the tape to make a strap to hang around your neck.
• Step 3: Decorate and go on an adventure in your backyard!

What you need: fresh flowers, scissors, paper towel or tissue paper, heavy book, microwave.

• Step 1: Gather flowers you want to press. Best flowers to press are in full bloom and have flat surfaces, like pansies, daisies, buttercups, and violets. Snip the flower leaving 1/2″ stem attached.
• Step 2: Arrange flowers between several layers of paper towel or tissue paper.
• Step 3: Place the tissue paper and flowers inside a page of a heavy book, like a telephone book (make sure there is no metal on it!) and place in the microwave.
• Step 4: Microwave the book for 30–60 seconds at a time, checking flowers as you go.
• Step 5: Continue microwaving flowers in 30 second internals until they are almost completely dry, then leave them in a warm, dry location for 1–2 days.
• Step 6: After the flowers are dry, display them in a clear picture frame, scrapbook page, or on a greeting card.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• /3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon multicolored sprinkles

1. Position rack in the center of the oven, preheat to 375. Line 1 large rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
2. Microwave butter in a large microwave-safe bowl on high until completely melted, about 1 minute. Whisk in both sugars, then the egg and vanilla, until smooth; let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Scoop the dough onto the center of the prepared baking sheet. Spread the dough with spatula into an 8-inch circle that’s 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle the top of the cookie with sprinkles (they’ll look crowded but will spread out as the cookie bakes).
4. Bake, rotating the baking sheet from back to front halfway through, until golden but still soft in the center, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then use a large spatula to transfer the cookie to a rack to cool. Slice the cookie into wedges, and serve.

From the Penn State Extension website: make your own slime!

What you need:

• Cornstarch
• Water
• Measuring cup/spoon
• Bowls
• Spoons for stirring
• School glue
• Baking soda
• Multi-purpose contact lens solution
• Glitter, food coloring and/or sequins (optional)
• Ice cubes

Directions:

1. Glue solution: Mix 1/2 cup (4 oz bottle) of Elmer’s School Glue with ½ tbsp. of baking soda first. Add food coloring and glitter if desired. Mix thoroughly.
2. Contact solution: Measure 1 tbsp. of multi-purpose contact solution
3. Combine the two solutions by slowly pouring contact solution into the glue solution. As you stir, you’ll notice that the mixture gets thicker as the slime begins to cross link. Mix it as much as you can in the bowl until most of the liquid in the bowl is mixed into the slime. Then, remove it from the bowl to continue to mix it and stretch it with your hands. If it’s too sticky, add ¼ tbsp. of contact solution and continue to knead, pull, and stretch.
4. The more you work the slime, the stiffer it will get.  Eventually, it will lose all elasticity.
5. Food coloring may stain hands, clothing, and surfaces.  Use on a surface covered in waxed paper or plastic wrap.  Store in a zip-closed plastic bag or airtight container.

Help our littlest residents stay mentally healthy and create good habits during these tough times with this free downloadable workbook from Give an Hour.

What you need:

• 4 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dish soap
• Step 1: Whisk together the sugar and warm water. Then, slowly whisk in the dish soap.
• Step 2: Put your bubble solution in a sealed container or separate for each person to have their own.
• Step 3: FInd an old bubble wand, or make your own with a pipe cleaner. Start blowing bubbles!

Bored at home? Find a plastic container and fill it with photos, notes, and other objects and mementos that define this time for your family. Pick items that show each family member’s personality. Seal the container with duct tape and plastic wrap. Bury it in the yard, but be sure to mark the spot in the yard with a rock, plant, or other marker. Set a time in the future to dig it back up!

• Step 1: Grab a backpack and empty it.
• Step 2: Write out letters A-Z on paper.
• Step 3: See if you can fill your backpack with items from around your house or yard that start with each letter.
• Bonus Step: Take a walk in your neighborhood to find even more!