Toy is hop, skip and jump
Active children can put a new twist on exercise by making plaything from bottle and rope.
NOW THAT the weather has cooled down a bit from the heat-wave temps of a couple weeks ago, it's the perfect time to get outside and burn off some energy in the summer sun.
If you're looking for an activity that's tougher to master than a jump rope, try this Twist-n-Skip. You can compete against your friends to see who can complete the most rotations without getting tripped up.
I found directions for the Twist-n-Skip on the DIY Network's website, diynetwork.com, and modified them for our use.
Supplies you will need
* 4 feet of nylon rope, 3/16-inch in diameter
* 1.5-liter plastic bottle
* Scissors
* Ruler
* Dry beans
* Drills and bits
* 2 feet of 1/4-inch vinyl flex tubing
* Paint pens
* 1 adult (to drill holes in the bottle and bottle cap)
How to make it
Rinse the plastic bottle and let it dry.
Replace the top on the bottle. Decorate the outside of the bottle with paint pens and set aside until the paint dries.
Ask an adult to drill a quarter-inch hole in the center of the bottom of the decorated bottle and through the cap. Clip off any rough edges.
Take the cap off the bottle. Tie a knot at the end of the rope (make sure it's tight!) and, starting at the bottom of the bottle, thread the rope through.
Put a cup of dry beans inside the bottle for weight. Thread the rope through the cap and replace the cap on the bottle.
Cut the flex tubing into two pieces, one 9 inches long and the other 14 inches long. Discard the leftover tubing.
Thread the rope through the 9-inch section of tubing. Then, thread the nylon rope through the 14-inch length of tubing and form a loop by tying the rope off at the bottom of that stretch of tubing.
Put your foot through the loop and swing the bottle end around in a circle while skipping over the rope as it passes.