3 Sure-fire Ways to Entertain Little Boys

If there is one thing I've learned about little boys in my days as a mama it's that they are BUSY!! My two run pretty much everywhere they go (even within the house) and they are constantly wrestling, jumping, exploring! It's really a wonder we are broken-bone-free!

So here are a few things that work like a charm that they LOVE and will keep them entertained when I need a few minutes to, I don't know... Do the dishes, fold some laundry or dare I even say it.... Shower uninterrupted? 

1. Tools

Give a boy a hammer and he's good to go! My boys love tools and sometimes all they need is a piece of wood (a spare piece of a 2x4 or a log both work great) and some nails. I usually grab a handful of nails and get them started into the wood and then let them take over with the hammer. They LOVE IT! They will sit hammering on the deck forever!

2. Play Doh

I know there are lots of play doh haters out there. It does make a mess every single time it comes out... But my kids love it! And I have a vacuum, a broom, a rag to wipe the table, so to me the mess is totally worth it. There are days my barely-3-year-old will spend literally hours (on and off) playing with play doh! I love it too because it's gets his little creative juices flowing! So I think it's totally worth buying a few of the kits, a small rolling pin, cookie cutters, etc for them to use with it and then I supply my own salt dough with this recipe:

Combine and set aside:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 t cream of tarter

Mix in saucepan:
1 cup water
1 T oil
Food coloring

Then add in dry ingredient mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring until it's the consistency you want. (I use a wooden spoon). Remove from pan and knead on wax paper until cool.

My kids love to help make it too! I let them do the food coloring and once it cools enough, they knead it as well.

3. Cleaning Wipes

This one is simple but really a win-win! My boys love to wipe down my chairs and doors with Clorox cleaning wipes. It's so great! They stay busy and I get a cleaner house!! 

It also never ceases to amaze me how long they stay entertained with a bottle of windex and some paper towels. My 5-year-old will windex my windows and mirrors until they are so clear it looks like you could walk right through them! We have had to limit the number or squirts he does per window though or else we just end up with a big windexy, streaky mess!

I love new ideas... So what are your tricks to help your boys (or girls) channel all that energy?