Keeping the kids entertained and engaged over March Break is challenging at the best of times. That’s why we’re loving Caroline Fernandez’s brand new book, Boredom Busters, brimming with dozens of budget-friendly, fun, and educational activities for kids.
Fernandez, the woman behind Parent Club, has three children of her own, which means the activities and projects in this book have been well tested! It’s divided into five themed activity sections: Art, Craft, Science, Food, and Travel.
In the Craft section, kids will learn how to make a snow globe from a baby food jar, and cinnamon clay. They’ll be intrigued by the homemade ice cream and chocolate mug cake in the Food Activities chapter. Help them make their own travel journal, or a felt story board, in the Travel chapter.
Cityline.ca recently chatted with Caroline Fernandez about Boredom Busters, here’s our interview with her.
First off, congratulations, Caroline! Tell us about your brand new book, Boredom Busters.
Boredom Busters offers 50+ activities, recipes, experiments and more to keep kids busy at home, in the classroom, and even on vacation. I created (read: tested) all of the Boredom Busters with the help of my three children so I know the activities in the book are sure to keep kids busy.
March Break can be a challenging time for parents, often they’re stuck for ideas on how to entertain their kids. What are a few of your favourite projects in this book that you can tell us about?
The hands-down, kid-approved, favourite activity in the book is “Goo-tastic”. Kids measure, pour, and stir 4 ingredients to make a super-neat Goo. Is it liquid? Is it solid? It’s both! And it lasts for weeks in an airtight container, so kids can play with it over and over again. Total hit!
My favourite activity is making a homemade journal. It’s easy and creative, using supplies readily found around the house. It’s also a great activity for March Break travels because kids can write, cartoon, journal to keep themselves busy whether on a plane, train, or in a car.
You have three kids – what’s your go-to Boredom Buster for them?
Baking! I create “jobs” like wet kid (in charge of the measuring and pouring wet ingredients), dry kid (in charge of measuring and pouring dry ingredients) and “stir-er” (in charge of stirring). That way there is no fighting over who gets to do what. I have a recipe for “Yogurt Container Cupcakes” in Boredom Busters where you make cupcakes and do all the measuring using an individual sized yogurt container. It’s a fun way to incorporate recycling and re-purposing into a baking activity!
I love that you mention these are projects that entertain kids ‘without screens’ – it’s all too easy to plop our kids in front of a TV screen or game console, but it isn’t great for our kids to have too much screen time. Can you explain why “screen-free” activities are important to you as a parent?
Confession: I’m typing this while my pre-schooler is watching cartoons – I am no screen-free SuperMom!
However, I do … daily … encourage my kids to do lots of screen-free activities. Screen-free activities build creativity. They help to develop skills (like reading, language acquisition, eye/hand coordination, even math skills). They develop and promote focus and self-confidence (“Mommy, look what I made!”). Screen-free activities promote hands-on fun –- whether it is with you, independently, or with friends.
How would you encourage parents to come up with their own “Boredom Busters?” Are there any criteria they should keep in mind for these activities?
I think Boredom Busters should always be easy and fun! No parent or teacher ever said, “Hey, let’s do something complicated!” Keep kid activities simple, positive, and engaging.
And remember, even a Boredom Buster catastrophe can turn into a fun experience. For example, one day I took out a bunch of white coffee filters and some washable markers and invited my daughter to colour on them (Keep in mind: Boredom Buster supplies can be ANYTHING in the house or classroom). My toddler son came along and spilled his sippy cup of water all over her colouring (and they say those things are spill-proof!).
My daughter was so angry that he ruined her activity. But I said, “Hey, wait, look at what is happening!…what do you see?…” The spilled water was changing the marker lines on the coffee filters…instantly…and right before her eyes. “What happens if we sprinkle more?!” she asked. From this catastrophic-art-project-mishap was born an activity we have done over and over again (on purpose): “Coffee Filter Water Colours.” It’s one of the best, most favourite, and most creative activities in my book Boredom Busters. And it came to be because we kept our Boredom Buster positive and engaging.
Our friends at Thomas Allen Ltd. have generously offered us three copies of Caroline Fernandez’s Boredom Busters for giveaway. For your chance to win, email submissions@cityline.ca and share how you keep the kids entertained during March Break! Be sure to include your contact info including a daytime phone number, and include “Boredom Busters” in the email subject line. Good luck! Contest closes Friday, March 14, 2014, 10am.
Excerpts and images from Boredom Busters by Caroline Fernandez. CICO Kidz, $18.95. Excerpted by permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.