Every week, Child Care Resources will publish The Bored Jar blog, which will provide you with ideas of activities to do with the children in your care. We know that much of the correspondence we send has to do with rules and regulations, but The Bored Jar will only be filled with fun activities. Whenever you’re bored with your kids, try some of our Bored Jar ideas!

Spinning Tops Activity

Spinning tops are a fun and easy craft to make. And, the needed supplies are ones you most likely already have on-hand. The tops are made from a circular cutout of cardboard (cereal boxes work well), a pencil, white paper, and glue.

First, glue white paper to the cardboard and allow it to dry. Once dry, have children decorate their circular cardboard cutout with colored pencils or crayons. One design idea is to divide the circle into sections (like pieces of pizza) with a different color in each section.

Next, poke a hole into the center of the circle using a sharpened pencil. 3-4 inch pencils are ideal. You spin the tops either by using the thumb, index and middle fingers or by using the palms of the hands (one palm sliding against the other with the pencil in between). Finally, watch the tops spin!

As a reminder, these tops will leave light pencil marks when they spin so put paper underneath them.