The coronavirus pandemic came out of the blue and has changed our lives forever. Many people have lost their jobs or became furloughed, and those that do have jobs often find themselves working from home.
Children are being schooled over the internet rather than going to classrooms, which means that they need to be entertained more than ever before to keep them from driving you around the bend.
One of the best things that you can do with your kids indoors is arts and crafts projects, as these allow them to let their creative juices flow while at the same time keep them occupied.
DIY projects can also be relatively inexpensive, especially as many craft shops have sprung up as a result of the pandemic and the fact we are changing our leisure habits.
When it comes to arts and crafts, kids love nothing more than painting, as they can get nice and messy at the same time as coming up with something inspirational, so why not think outside the box and give them paint that glows in the dark to be creative with?
This will allow them to put a different slant on their projects, and they can even come up with something spooky to keep them entertained when they go to bed. In this article, we are going to take a look at some fun and creative projects using this type of paint, so read on to find out more.
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Noughts and Crosses
Everyone likes a game of noughts and crosses, especially children, as it teaches them how to be strategic and also how to think outside of the box if they want to beat the person they are playing against.
One way of livening up this game would be to paint a glow in the dark grid on the wall and then to make noughts and crosses out of the card, that can be painted with the same paint and then affixed in the appropriate position whilst playing the game.
Not only will you provide hours of fun for your kids while they are making the game, but they can also educate themselves whilst playing.
Furthermore, as they can play in the dark, it is perfect for when they have friends sleepover as they can use the game as a tool to help them sleep at night.
So, invest in the appropriate materials and your special paint, and your kids will have hours of entertainment.
The Stars
Ever since time immemorial human beings have been fascinated by the heavens and particularly the stars. We have tracked them for millennia and given crazy names to the constellations such as ‘the chair’ or ‘Ursa major’, not to mention that the signs of the zodiac are all named after constellations.
Well, wouldn’t it be a great and educational project for the kids, to have them paint the most famous constellations on their bedroom ceilings in paint that glows in the dark?
They could have hours of fun choosing their own constellations named after the favorite creatures and, with the help of a ladder and a responsible adult, then paint them above their bed so that every time they go to sleep, they are reminded about the wondrous skies above us.
Who knows, there may be a budding astrologist or even astronomer in your midst, and you could be igniting a passion that one day might see them travel to space!
Glow Lanterns
Now that we are approaching winter, the nights are drawing in fast, so a bit of festive illumination outside of your house would not go amiss.
Traditionally this would involve lights and Christmas-themed displays adorning the facade of your home but we know that this isn’t environmentally friendly as we are all trying to cut down on excess use of electricity.
Why not, then, do something different and make lanterns and other types of decoration out of paint that can glow in the dark?
Lanterns are surprisingly easy to make as all you need is some old jam jars, some string, and of course, your special paint.
Simply have your kids paint the inside of each jar in their favorite glowing color and then fasten the string around the top of the jar and then you have your very own homemade lantern.
Hang the lanterns around your front door so carol singers and other visitors alike are enchanted by your festive decorations. Your kids will have hours of fun making them and will be the envy of all their school chums.
A Fishbowl
Many people keep goldfish at home, and they can be an awful lot of fun and can bring great joy to young children. However, they require a great deal of care, and if you have other pets in the house, they are not particularly practical.
One way to get around this is to purchase some fishbowls and then have your children decorate them with their favorite images of the ocean using a paint that can glow in the dark.
They can paint on seaweeds and other underwater plants and then can adorn it with their favorite sea creatures from pretty Nemo style clownfish, to scary great white sharks.
When they settle down to sleep they will be mesmerized by the glowing bowl in the corner of their room as it emits a warm glow that helps them to reach la-la land.
As we have learned, there are many creative DIY projects for kids that can be done with paint that glows in the dark. A great place to start is with a game of naughts and crosses as this can be painted on to the bedroom or playing room wall and can be enjoyed at all hours of the day.
Painting constellations of stars on the bedroom ceiling is both educational and rewarding, and making glowing lanterns out of old jam jars can add a festive touch to your home.
If keeping fish is too much effort, but your children enjoy the soothing effect of a fishbowl, have them paint one in their favorite glowing colors, and they will enjoy the calming effect as they nod off at night.