"Staycation" activities to keep the kids smiling

Vacations might offer up exotic locales and daily housekeeping, but they can be murder on the family budget. We're giving your summer staycation a makeover with three creative and crafty ideas to keep the kids entertained at home.



1. Build a dream house

Some of the best building blocks are in your recycling bin right now. Milk cartons, paper towel rolls, soda bottles, plastic containers, pasta boxes--it's all fair game. Use a hot glue gun or the regular old white paste to assemble a structure limited only by imagination. After the glue dries, paint the beach house (or mansion or fairy tale castle) in fantastical colors. Trick out the house even more with trees, bird baths, windows, or a hot tub by using more cast-off materials from the recycling bin or art supply box.

2. Homemade play-doh

In a bowl, mix together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 tablespoons each oil and cream of tartar. Stir in vegetable juice for color (carrot or beet work well for brights). Cook in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture becomes stiff. Let cool, and then knead like bread dough until it's a pliable texture that's easy to work with. This version of play-doh is all natural and making it is half the fun for the kids.

3. Paper mâché animals

Have your kids decide which zoo creature they'll be creating, and then shape the animal's form with old newspapers. Hold it all together with masking tape--lots and lots of masking tape. Next, cut strips of newspaper about six inches long and one inch wide. Mix together a paste made of one part flour and two parts water. One by one, dip the newspaper strips into the paste, scrape off the excess goop, and apply to the animal form. Overlap the strips and smooth with your hands. Let the critter dry for 24 hours, and then bring to life with paint and googly eyes.

Thanks for watching this episode of Real-Life Makeover. See you next time!