Sunday Funday Quarantine Activities for Kids

Photo by Alaric Sim

DIY Stress Ball

A stress ball is not a long-term solution to managing stress, but it is a great way to release tension in the moment. Playing with a stress ball can also provide other benefits such as strengthening hand muscles and increasing students’ concentration. The COVID19 pandemic has created significant stress in everyone’s lives (to say the least), and we could all likely benefit from having a stress ball handy.

Supplies:

• Balloons

• Flour (Cornstarch, arrowroot powder, rice flour, sand, and uncooked rice all work as filler as well)

• Funnel (if you do not have a funnel, here is a printable paper funnel/cone template)

• Disposable water bottle

• Essential oil (optional but adds to the soothing essence of your stress ball)

Instructions:

1. Use your funnel to put ½ cup to 1 cup flour (or other filler) into a disposable water bottle

2. Add 10 drops of an essential oil to the flour in the water bottle

3. Put the cap on the water bottle and shake until the flour and essential oil are well mixed

4. Blow up your balloon to approximately twice the final size of your stress ball

5. Attach the end of the balloon to the water bottle

6. Turn the balloon and water bottle upside down and squeeze the floor into the balloon

7. Pinch the end of the balloon closed and remove the balloon from the water bottle. Keep the end of the balloon mostly pinched closed but slowly open it to let the excess air out. Tie off the end of the balloon.

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Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

Photo by Alana Harris

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Half and Half (whole milk or cream work too)

• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp sugar

• Ice

• 1/4 cup salt (you can use any salt, but chunkier salt is less likely to get in your ice cream - personally, I used Kosher salt)

• Ziplock bags - 2 Small, 1 Large

Instructions:

1. Pour 1 cup of Half and Half into the small Ziplock bag

2. Add 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of sugar

3. Seal the smaller bag firmly and let out excess air. Double bag to avoid salty ice cream.

4. Fill the larger Ziplock half way with ice and add ¼ cup of salt

5. Place the smaller bag (sealed!) into the larger bag. Seal the larger bag.

6. Shake for 6 minutes while wearing gloves (oven mitts work great).

7. After 6 minutes, take the smaller bag out of the larger bag and rinse it with cold water to get the salt off. Make sure that you rinse the seal of the bag especially well to avoid getting salt in your ice cream. Dry the outside of your bag.

8. Open and enjoy! Don’t forget to add the toppings!

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Inspiration from:

• Stress-Relief Tools: Do These Old-Fashioned Remedies Really Work? by Kate Bratskeir

• How to Make Aromatherapy Stress Balls by Sarah Lewis

• Delish Ice Cream in a Bag by Lena Abraham

• The Best Ideas for Kids