Race Track Pretend Play

Submitted by
Kayla Chong

Appease your kid's need for speed and for getting messy in one high-speed afternoon.

Racecar drivers:
Your kids
Pit crew chief:
You
A hard plastic kiddy pool
Snow:
Two cans of shaving cream. Save your mango-lime scented shaving gel for the shower...this activity needs the plain ole' white stuff.
Several toy cars
Small pieces of 2x44, rocks and other "obstacles" (optional)
A carwash:
Your hose

Have the racecar drivers collect all of their toy cars in a box or bag. Whoa! Did you just walk from your kitchen to your living room without tripping on a miniature semi? Maybe you should play this game more often.
Flip your kiddie pool over and set it on a flat surface.
Let your track engineers design the perfect track. A rock can become a "mountain" and a 2x44 sitting on a rock can be a ramp. The more obstacles, the better.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Give your kid (and his friend or sibling) a can of shaving cream and let them cover the track with "snow".
Let the races begin! Pull up their sleeves (or if you're not feeling like doing laundry, have them put on their swim suits) and lower the checkered flag. Pit a Porsche against a VW Bug. Let your tractor trailer slide down a snowy hill. Driving in snow can be a bit tricky at first, but they'll get the hang of it.
When the races are over and the winners have been declared, pull out the hose and turn your yard into a carwash. Hose down the cars, the track and most importantly, the drivers. Hose them down well and they won't even need a bath tonight! Shaving cream counts as soap, right?