Arts & Entertainment

Old-School Amusements: Silly Putty and Yo-yos (with Video)

One in a summer-long series of fun things to do

Here are two old-school games that could be fun pursuits for a sticky day: yo-yos and Silly Putty!

Both are available at many local stores, including grocery stores, and both can amuse kids for hours on end.

 Silly Putty bounces and floats. Get the kids to draw pictures with pencils (even colored pencils) and press the Silly Putty onto the pictures. It should pick up most of the art, and show it backwards. If you have comics from the Sunday paper, Silly Putty will pick them up, as well.

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You can make flowers, by breaking off pieces, pressing them into circles and then pressing them together. You can make dogs or cats or birds by rolling the putty into different-sized balls and pressing them together.

Press the Silly Putty around different objects – a pencil, an empty soda bottle, buttons – and make different-shaped boats.

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The yo-yo will take some practice, but it’s a lot of fun, especially on days when the kids can go outside. (You might not want to allow yo-yoing inside the house. Just a thought!)

Click here for an excellent basic yo-yo guide.


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