Fishing for What?

Sometimes what we really need is an activity that lets us cook or get dinner on or the floor mopped while they sit and play quietly at the kitchen table. The best ideas are ones where the kids don't need too much grown up assistance and can't make too much mess. Those are my favorites at least. I made a new one today. Eve calls it her fishing jar. It's simple, colorful, fun, and easy.

Here's all you need:

Glass jar with a lid

Brightly colored pipe cleaners (oh, right, they call them chenille craft sticks now!)

Scissors

Fairly strong magnet

Here's what to do:

Cut as many pipe cleaners as you wish into 1 or 2 inch pieces. Bend them a little if you like. These are your "fish".

Drop them into your jar. This is your fish bowl. Fill it as much as you wish.

Screw the lid onto the jar.

Hand your child the magnet and let them "catch" fish by raising the pieces of pipe cleaner all over the inside of the jar. They'll be amused by how many fish stick to the magnet and they'll have a great time watching the magnet move them around.

You'll have a great time with two free hands to get something done while they play. Happy quiet Sunday everyone.