As I’ve mentioned before, I hate nothing more than the kids sat in front of the TV or a games console for hours on end. There are times that this is a necessary evil and the only way you can buy some time to get things done is to put the TV on for them. However, whenever I can help it, I prefer to get creative with my kids and I love nothing more than a little craft project. Here are 5 DIY projects that I’ve made with the kids that they loved making and playing with.

Musical Instruments

We all know how much kids love a bit of noise and often my kids and I will set out to make some musical instruments. I have 3 kids so we can almost form a band! One thing to remember is that you can make noise with anything. Rake through the garage and find any old pots and pans or blocks of wood, arm your child with a stick or a utensil and you have a drum kit. Fill old glass bottles with varying amounts of water and blow across the tops for some pipes. Fill a toilet roll with dried peas and seal for a shaker or wrap some elastic bands over a baking tray for a makeshift guitar, the list is endless.

Get Scrapping

All my children have a scrap book of mementos and photos through the years and it’s a great little project for them. You can buy proper scrap books but I prefer to buy a good sized book with a hard body and let the kids decorate their own. Inside they can put whatever they like, tickets, badges, photos and a host of other memories. Add some glitter, glue, ribbons and stickers and they have a book that reminds them of all their memories and achievements.

Straw Construction

I love this game, pick up some paper straws from a craft shop, give the kids an equal amount of straws and a pot of glue. The challenge then is to either build the highest tower or the strongest bridge. Make sure you are on hand for this one as it also works as an educational game. They have to strategise as to what will be the best option and you can of course ask them questions to teach them about different styles of buildings. Add a prize for the winner and this will be a great game for them.

Lego

Simply one of the most fun things you can do with your child in my opinion. Firstly, Lego is great for all ages (including adults,) secondly it is just so brilliantly versatile. I try to avoid buying the kits that have a particular design and prefer to buy random blocks. This way your child can really get creative, I like to suggest the strangest thing possible for them to build and see what they come up with. I always take part in this because, well I just love Lego.

Restoration

Something I’ve started doing with my eldest is to buy old pieces of furniture at a charity shop and giving them a bit of love. It started when he wanted a new set of drawers, we saw some ‘unloved’ drawers at a charity shop and I suggested we could make them better and individual. He was game so we polished them up, gave them a lick of paint and added some designs that he chose. Since then we’ve done a table and 2 chairs. A great project for them and it also teaches them about recycling or upcycling things which can only be good.