Flour Power

The silky texture, low cost, and safe-to-eat nature of flour makes it a terrific tactile material for little kids. But what mom wants clouds of flour floating around her kitchen? Here's a way to let your toddler enjoy its unique appeal -- while keeping the mess (mostly!) contained.

Head outside and pour a 5-pound bag of flour into a dry kiddie pool. Add some child-safe tools such as scoops, a sieve, measuring cups, a sand rake, and shovels, along with a few favorite cars, trucks, and construction-themed toys. Now let your child plop right down in the middle of it all. Show him how he can mound, pat, and scoop the flour, even making mountains, roads, and valleys for vehicles to cruise over and through. When he's done playing, cover the flour with a tarp so it'll stay clean and dry for another day.