I once told my six-year-old he sounded like a broken record. And he replied, "What's a record?" That's when I realized it was time to put our phonograph out to pasture, or at least to find new uses for it. And thus, these marker spirals--a kind of mess-free version of spin art--were born. Kyle and Jake say the best part is choosing colors to spin on the phonograph. The worst part is watching Mom dance around to "Yellow Submarine" beforehand.

While you dig out your old phonograph, have your kids choose a few washable markers. Poke a hole in the center of a paper plate, then set it on the phonograph as you would a record, and turn on the player. Have your kids hold the tip of one or more markers on the plate, moving them back and forth. Flip over the plate and repeat on the other side. Then, starting at the outer edge of the plate, use scissors to cut around in a spiral, until you reach the plate's middle. String up one end of the strip, and let it hang down in a colorful curlicue.