With most schools closed for the foreseeable future, keeping on top of your children's education — whether their teachers sent home packets or you're relying on free online resources [1] — is a priority. Because families might not be in the position to buy a slew of new supplies at the moment (and there are only so many movies your fam can watch [2] in a day!), we've rounded up some easy-to-execute crafts and experiments for parents to create with their kids.
Scroll through for a look at some of our favourite options, whether you're aiming to teach your brood about the basics of physics or want to hunker down for an hour to DIY [3] some bookmarks! And if you're in the market for more educational content, check out these authors who are holding read-alongs and drawing sessions online.
Make Rock Candy
All you need to make a simple rock candy recipe [4] is water and sugar! Feel free to add flavouring using vanilla extract if you have it laying around and prepare watch the crystals form.
Create Plate Masks
Cut out eye holes in a few paper plates and give kids markers to decorate personalized masks [5], whether they want to go the superhero or princess route, the sky's the limit!
Do a Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment
Prepare to amaze kiddos with this tried a true Diet Coke and Mentos experiment [6]. Just combine the two ingredients, step back, and watch your creation explode. Pro tip: do this one outside, because it can get very messy.
Decorate Bookmarks
Cut out strips of heavy pieces of paper to fashion bookmarks [7] and have little ones go to town with decorating! Added bonus: it's a sweet keepsake.
Use Lemon Juice to Make Invisible Ink
Squeeze a bit of lemon juice and a few drops of water into a bowl to DIY your own invisible ink [8]! Use a paint brush or cotton ball to write messages on white paper. Once your message dries, hold it near heat to reveal the secret words or image.
Experiment With the Properties of Oil and Water
Teach your children the meaning of density by simply pouring a half-cup of oil and a half-cup water [9] into a clear bottle. Mix it up by adding a few drops of food colouring to see how the pigment disperses.
Make a Solo Cup Tower
Alternate between stacking levels of flat sheet paper and Solo cups [10] and watch your tower soar. Just be sure to take a photo before it comes toppling down!
Make Your Own Butter Using Heavy Cream
Pour a half-cup of heavy whipping cream into a glass [11] and let it sit for five hours. Once it's done setting, pour it into a glass quart jar and shake it to make butter!
Make Your Own Birdhouse
When it comes to DIYing birdhouses with your brood [12], you can get creative with the materials. Opt for pieces of scrap wood or cut open a clean milk jug and have the kids help you paint!
Make Bottle Instruments
Fill various glass bottles up with varying levels of liquid [14] and tell children to blow on them. Have them note the difference in sounds and explain that the slower the glass vibrates, the lower the pitch!
Get Colourful With Crayon Art
Have a bunch of old crayons laying around? Us too! Tape them to a piece of cardboard and melt them with a hair dryer [15] to get a gorgeous rainbow effect.
Make Tissue Paper Flowers
We bet dollars to doughnuts you have a few sleeves of tissue paper hidden in a closet somewhere! Use this handy instructional video to make pretty paper flowers [16] and be sure to display them proudly in a vase or on the wall!
Grow Mold on Bread
Grab five slices of bread do the following before putting them in separate bags: 1) put one straight into the bag untouched, 2) let kids touch one slice with dirty hands, 3) have your children wash their hands with soap and water before touching the bread, 4) have them touch a slice after using hand sanitizer, and 5) rub one piece on a frequently used surface of your home. Leave the bread out for a few days and watch the mold spores grow.
Attach a Parachute to a Small Toy
Attach a small plastic bag (or cut out part of a larger one using the directions in this video [17]), to one of your kids' toys before heading up to the top of the stairs to let her rip!