Keeping the grandkids happy and occupied can sometimes tax even the most creative mind.  Here are a number of activities you might like to think about.  They're easy to do and cheap to fund and should keep them happy for hours.  If you have any ideas we can pass on to other grandparents use our CONTACT US form to share it with us and we'll share it with our readers.

FABULOUS GLITTER PLAYDOUGH

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups water
• 2 tblsp vegetable oil
• 4 tsp cream of tartar
• ½- 1 cup glitter (We used pink, silver, gold, green, and purple)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients in a saucepan (children can help with this step). At this point the playdough will resemble thick pancake batter.
2. Add approximately ½ -1 cup glitter.
3. Cook on the stove at medium heat until mixture forms a ball (stir constantly).
4. Place ball on the counter to cool slightly (it will be very hot coming out of saucepan).
5. Knead the playdough to smooth out any bumps.

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NEW YEAR MEMORY GAME

Here's a wonderful game to play on New Year's Day or any other time really.  It helps little ones develop their cognitive skills and provides an opportunity to remember events that occurred over the past year.  Kids love recalling when photos were taken and reliving the moment.

​You will need some card stock, double stick tape, digital photos , scissors and marker.

1. Choose six or more photos of favorite memories of 2012. You can print them out in a collage or individually. Make sure you have two copies of each picture.
2. Cut your pictures out. You can print them in black and white to save on ink or in colour. 
3. Tape the pictures to the card stock.
4. Cut out each card separately.
5. Write the year on the back so you can store them and use them to play in another year and reminisce about the events shown in the photos.
6. Lay out a number of photos face down, two of each, shuffled up.
7. Now turn a card over and try to find its pair.  When you have matched a pair removed the two cards from the grid.
8. Depending on the amount of cards you have used to create the grid, you might like to restrict everyone's turn to a single pick or allow the players to continue to pick until they miss a match.​

CHOCOLATE PARTY SPOONS

Here's an activity that any grandchild will adore.  They're easy, fun and best of all they taste amazing.  You can get the grandkids to make them for a treat or you can make them for birthday parties or other occasions.  There's no limit to the joy you can spread.

Ingredients

• 6 oz. (180 g) quality chocolate (milk, dark, white--anything!), chopped 
• sprinkles, jelly beans, confetti quins, or any other small confection
• 24 coloured plastic spoons
• Baking tray lined with baking paper
• a book or two for resting party spoons while filling

Instructions

1. Place your plastic spoons on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, resting the spoon handles on a rubber spatula or book, to level them out while filling.
2. Temper your chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave (or in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water on the stove), by warming for 20 second intervals and stirring in between. When the chocolate is almost (80%) completely melted, remove from the microwave and keep stirring until the last few pieces are completely melted and the chocolate is smooth.
3. Spoon melted chocolate into your plastic spoons, about 80% full (the sprinkles and lollies will fill the rest)--any more than that, and they will likely overflow.
4. Add your sprinkles, tiny lollies and more. Place baking tray in the freezer or refrigerator for about 20 minutes to set.

MAKE A MEMORY BOX

You will need:
A shoebox
Paint or wrapping paper
Small photos
​
To make:
​Paint or cover a shoebox. Draw or paint the year (just passing) on to the lid. Cut out lots of small photos taken this year and glue to the box to decorate.

Fill the box with tickets, leaflets, photos, certificates and other mementos to help you remember all the things you have done this year.