When my son Kyle was five, he won a free goldfish at a fair. He was delighted. My husband and I, who had to purchase the tank and the air filter, as well as clean them weekly, were not. Kyle gradually lost interest in the fish and--after we moved--barely noticed its absence. Two months later, Kyle asked for a new fish. This time--with the help of permanent markers--we compromised, creating a fish tank that was much more colorful and a heck of a lot easier to set up.

On a clean Styrofoam meat tray, have your child draw and color in several fish with permanent markers. Cut the fish out with scissors, then punch a hole at the bottom center of each one. Run a long piece of thread or fishing line through each hole and tie each end to a rock or seashell.

Cover the bottom of a glass container (such as a fishbowl or large mayonnaise jar) with a few inches of sand, then place the rocks and shells on the sand. Add the weighted fish carefully, so that the threads don't get tangled. Slowly pour water into the container and watch the fish float.