FamilyFun - October 2009

EverydayFun
Shrinking Islands

INDOOR GAME

A close relation to musical chairs, this game uses towels — the “islands” — in place of the classic game’s seats.

Before play begins, place a few old towels on the floor, making sure the group of towels offers just enough standing room for all of the players. As in musical chairs, players must walk around in a circle whenever the music is playing. When the music stops, each player scrambles to stand on a towel (several players might be able to fit on one towel, depending on its size). Players are allowed to clutch onto a friend so that they can squeeze onto an island. Any player who can’t stand with both feet on an island is out.

After each round, an island is folded (to reduce the available standing room) or removed entirely. You may want to switch to a hand towel or a washcloth for the final rounds. The last person standing on an island wins.

NATURE CRAFT

Waxed Leaves

Give the colorful leaves of autumn some serious staying power by dipping them in wax. Use the preserved leaves to decorate a table or make a fall-inspired mobile.

Place a piece of paraffin wax in the smaller can, and place the smaller can inside the larger one. Add warm water to both cans, filling them to about a half-inch below the rim of the small can.

(When melted, the wax will float on top of the water.) Simmer the water over medium heat until the wax has melted (a parent’s job). To avoid spatters, don’t let the water and wax come to a full boil.

Use pot holders to remove the cans from the stove and put them on the newspaper. Hold a leaf by its stem, carefully dip it into the wax, then lay it on waxed paper to harden.