My 6 year old LOVES these things, and they are totally independent:

https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Mess-Free-Glitter-Craft/dp/B00PZYQODI/ref=asc_df_B00PZYQODI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309763877940&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14103441937739767082&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008154&hvtargid=pla-460098763845&psc=1

There are a bunch of different kinds.

He's also big into perler beads, painting rocks, and those bricks of compressed sand where there are gems or plastic fossils hidden inside.

Sculpey clay.

Painting rocks to decorate the yard.
Paint little unfinished wooden birdhouses.
Popsicle sticks in different colors. Glue them together to make coasters, boxes, whatever!
Cut out and glue construction paper to make spring decorations

Wooden birdhouses, letters, wreaths, anything like that that can be painted.

My kids have also been really into these pre-printed sheets of watercolor paper - they have flowers, plants, other scenes and they can paint them.

Also, you really can't go wrong with lego or any other building sets - those take hours!

Do you have a marble run? What about an electronics kit like Snap Circuits?

Anonymous wrote:toothpicks and marshmallows for a fun building challenge

Yes! Great idea!

What about building a bird house out of wood and screws and then painting it?

Anonymous wrote:Make a Crystal Garden with Mrs Stewart's bluing agent. Old school but still pretty cool.

Never heard of this. I will google. Thank you.

Anonymous wrote:Magic Rocks, Dinosaur digs, dissecting owl pellets, Science experiment kits, lego builds.

Since it's nice outside, I have them dig for worms. It turns the soil in my garden bed, and the get worms. They either play with them, get a prize for who finds the longest worm, or we go fishing.

These are awesome thank you!

Make a Crystal Garden with Mrs Stewart's bluing agent. Old school but still pretty cool.

toothpicks and marshmallows for a fun building challenge

Slime materials are always a hit, messy though they may be. I?m going to get borax and lots of glue. Glue has the added use of smearing it on your hand and peeling it off when it dries.

Also other messy things like cornstarch to mix with water and vinegar and baking soda. In the name of science.

Magic Rocks, Dinosaur digs, dissecting owl pellets, Science experiment kits, lego builds.

Since it's nice outside, I have them dig for worms. It turns the soil in my garden bed, and the get worms. They either play with them, get a prize for who finds the longest worm, or we go fishing.

Anonymous wrote:Masking tape, some paint or markers, and save your large cardboard boxes. Good age to be making cardboard forts, vehicles, whatever.

Great idea thanks! They love this.

Masking tape, some paint or markers, and save your large cardboard boxes. Good age to be making cardboard forts, vehicles, whatever.

I'd like to go to Michael's and get some crafts for the kids to keep them somewhat busy once we have to be stuck home for a few weeks.

I'm thinking of peeler beads, shrink drinks, but that's all I can come up with. They aren't really into coloring. Any other ideas? 8 and 6 year old boys.

Thank you.