Paper Plate Playtime

1. Make a silly spinner. All you need is a paper plate and a straw! Have your child draw lots of colored circles around the paper plate. Make a hole in the center of the plate and poke a straw through it so that the tips stick out a couple inches. Spin the straw and watch the colors blend together for a cool effect!

2. Tic-Tac-Toe is even more fun in this giant way! All you need is 9 pieces of letter-size paper and 10 small paper plates. To create the game board, lay 9 sheets of paper in three rows of three. Draw an “X” on the front of five paper plates and an “O” on the front of five others to create the game pieces. Let the games begin!

3. After visiting the zoo or the aquarium, make your own pet turtle. All you need is a paper plate (any size) and construction paper scraps. To make the turtle’s shell, have your child decorate the back of the paper plate. Using the construction paper, cut out the turtle’s tail, legs, head, eyes, etc. Tape them to the edge of the plate and give him a name.

4. Create music with your own tambourine. All you need is two paper plates, yarn or string, a hole punch and bells. Hold the two plates together, front-to-front, and punch holes around the rim using a hole punch. Have your child string the yarn through the holes, String on a bell every few holes securing it tightly. Tie the two ends together with a tight knot. Now, boogie!

Photo: Pals, Aidan and Jasmine