Parent's Time Out 
November 16, 2001

This weekly feature of the Online Exchange is committed to helping parents take back quality time and devote it more fully to spending it with their children. Here is where you can start to take a Time Out from the TV, computer, housework, and bills. It only takes a few minutes to do fun and memorable things with your children and we will lend a hand each week to get you started. Tune in here for encouragement, fun and easy things to do, and other tidbits, all geared just for you and your precious ones.

~ Time Out for the Week

More Play Dough Galore
Playdough Recipe #4

This recipe can be used over and over and lasts for weeks. A child just learning to model will appreciate how soft and cooperative it feels in her hands, especially when it's warm.

Play Clay

1 cup all-purpose flour 
1 cup water 
1/2 cup salt 
1 teaspoon vegetable oil 
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 
Food coloring (for vibrant colors, use cake decorating paste) 
Mix the flour, water, salt, oil and cream of tartar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until it holds together (keep mixing or it will stick to the bottom of the pan). When the clay is cool enough to touch, knead it on a floured surface and add the food coloring. Store in an airtight container such as a Ziploc baggie or old sour cream container.

Play Dough Recipe #5
Here is a fun craft for kids of all ages, including the big ones. You can make modeling dough in less than 15 minutes! The dough can be used for sculptures, magnets, making letters and numbers and imprinting hand prints. the possibilities are unlimited.

Here's what you need:

1/2 cup of salt 
1 cup of flour, white or unbleached 
1/2 cup of boiling water 
food coloring (optional) 
clear nail polish or vanish (optional) 
spoon 
bowl 
wax paper 
1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil 
Before you start:

Make a place to work protect the table with a big sheet of paper. 
Read all the instructions 
Get everything you need to do the project. 
Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it. 
Here's what you do

Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl. 
Add vegetable oil and boiling water. Stir with spoon until well blended and dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. When it is cool enough to handle, knead the dough with your hands until it is smooth. This should only take a minute or two. 
If you want colors other than white, separate the dough into two or three balls. Flatten the ball and make a well in the center. Add 2 or more drops of food coloring to the well
- 2 drops for a pastel color, more for deeper colors. Knead the dough until the color is even. 
Store your finished modeling dough in an airtight bag or container. It will keep for weeks if stored in the refrigerator. Be sure to let it warm to room temperature before using. 
Pinch off as much dough as you need to make your shape and leave the rest in the sealed container. Work the dough into any desired shape with your hands or just about any kitchen utensil. Making the letters of the alphabet can help your preschooler learn the letters along with numbers too. The more colorful, the more your little one will want to use them! 
When you have finished molding your shape, put it on a piece of wax paper to dry. It should dry overnight to a hard finish. Pieces may be left plain or can be painted to add durability and color. Small pieces can be painted with nail polish, while you will want to use varnish or an acrylic sealer like Mod Podge for larger pieces 

Play dough recipe # 6

Mix:
3 c. flour 
1 1/2 c. salt 
2 T. cream of tartar 
Add:
6 T. vegetable oil 
3 c. water 
food coloring (your pick) 
Mix thoroughly and cook over low heat until the dough is the consistency of mashed potatoes. 
Cool; play with; store in plastic bags. 

~ What's for Dinner?

Salisbury Steak

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tbls. milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Combine in a bowl- ground beef, cracker crumbs, egg, milk, salt & pepper, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 4 oval 1/2" thick patties. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place beef patties in skillet, cook 7-8 min. or until no longer pink, turning once. Add soup and heat.  Great with Mashed potatoes.

~ Just for You
and your family- Part 2

Environmentally Safe (and kid safe)
products to clean your home:

Five basic nontoxic ingredients that can be used as cleansing agents: 

These ingredients, supplemented with vegetable-oil- based soaps, lemon juice, herbs or toothpaste, can be mixed together and used to bring a natural, economical and safe shine to your home.

baking soda             washing soda 
borax                       salt 
white vinegar 

Here are some of the compounds you can make:

Copper-pan cleaner: 
Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon. 

Wood furniture cleaner: 
To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto the stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth. 

Removing mildew 
To remove mildew from bathtubs, bathroom curtains and tile, make a mixture of: 
one-half cup vinegar 
one-half cup of Borax cleaning detergent 
2 cups of water. 
Pour it on the dirty areas and let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a cloth. If mildew is still visible, use the mixture twice. 

To clean the toilet bowl, combine equal parts of baking soda, Borax cleaning detergent and white vinegar. Pour generously around the bowl and scrub with a brush. Or leave it over night if badly stained. 

Look for more next week!

~ Recommended Site of the Week

Sea World/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database. Designed especially for students and teachers, the Sea World/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database brings the world of wildlife to classrooms! Download cool animal facts, teacher’s guides, quizzes, activities . . . even check out live animal cams! http://www.seaworld.org 

Thank you for joining us for this weeks Time Out! Now the rest is up to you. Take the time to do the things suggested, or think of your own ways to spend precious time with your family. But most importantly, HAVE FUN!!  

Be sure to tell your friends about us! Highlight the parts of the page you like the best and print it. Then keep a folder of ideas and recipes.

We would like to hear from you! If you have a favorite family site or craft, send it to us and we might share it with our readers. Or, just let us know what you think of our feature. 
Contact Sara.


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Giving Credit were Credit is Due...
We search all over for great tips, ideas and recipes and don't want to forget to let you know where it all comes from. This week we would like to thank the following:
www.homeschoolzone.com          www.pinksunrise.com
www.seaworld.org