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This post was written by Children's Museum Blog Ambassador Katie White! Follow Katie's posts on the blog or follow her on Twitter @katieunscripted.
The Children’s Museum has been our leading winter play destination since our first was born 12 years ago. Being able to let the kids run off some energy during the winter months is a must for our active kids, especially when it’s too cold to play outside regularly. Plus, I need to get out of the house during the dark days just as much as they do.
On our most recent trip to the museum, the boys and I spent the entire morning in the Dinosphere exhibit. I spent many hours in Dinosphere with my girls since it opened 10 years ago, but my boys have been too intimidated to spend any real time in it the last few years. Until last week, that is.
Isaac was really nervous, but once we moved out of the main gallery away from all the dinosaurs and noises and into the fossil digging section, he loosened up and really enjoyed himself, goggles and all. And Lucas was enamored by the fossils and x-rays of dinosaur bones.
We had such a great time that we decided we’d make our own fossils at home this weekend. We made a simple salt dough by mixing 2 parts all-purpose flour with 1 part salt and 1 part warm water and kneading the dough for five minutes. The boys loved helping by getting their hands in the dough too.
After rolling the dough out (to about ¼ inch thick), the boys each picked out some toys to make imprints in the dough. We chose a standard plastic dinosaur of course, but added in a sword from a Transformer toy (all Lucas asks is “Is it March yet?” because that’s when the Transformers: Robots in Disguise™exhibit opens), a Hot Wheels™ car (because Lucas also CANNOT wait for Hot Wheels™: Race to Win to open in May), a fish and a LEGO man (which was my personal favorite fossil imprint because I imagine it’s what the bottom of my feet look like from stepping on them all the time!)
Then we baked them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet in the oven at 200 degrees for two hours. I slid them off the parchment paper and directly onto the cookie sheet to bake for another hour to harden the bottoms more.
I honestly think it was the easiest craft I’ve ever done with my kids. Can you believe that I’ve been parenting for over 12 years and have four kids and have NEVER made salt dough before?! I always thought it would be too much of a pain, but it was simple, easy to clean up and was super quick, which all describe a perfect craft for me and two young boys.
The last six months that I’ve spent as a Blog Ambassador have completely changed my vision of the museum. Rather than only looking to the museum as an outlet for energy and creative play, we’re bringing that energy and creativity home with us after each visit. I can’t wait to see what new ideas are sparked from our visits to the Children’s Museum as the years go by.
