Moms: 'Thrift Queen' has advice for grandparents

What if I told you making sidewalk chalk at home would improve your overall health — particularly if you are a grandparent?

Stirring together plaster of paris, paint and water reduces stress, eases your budget (that's assuming you have grandchildren eager to chalk-up the sidewalk) and even bolsters your standing with folks younger than 10.

Beth Engelman, the self-styled "Thrift Queen," says grandparents can save money while having fun with grandchildren by following her recipes for everything from sidewalk chalk to a day at the library.

She writes children's books and many of her tips and ideas are displayed at engelmanriggs.com.

"Grandparents can entertain more cheaply because they have the time and patience," she says.

Well, I don't necessarily have that much time. And my patience is often — how can I put this tactfully — explored to its fullest and exploited to its depths by my seven grandchildren. Still …

Q.What makes you an authority on thrifty kid pleasing tips?

A. I'm a single mom. I got divorced right after my son was born three years ago. But by making little changes, I never changed my lifestyle. I learned ways to cut corners.

For instance, as the economy got bad it was clear we had to save money.

For my son's birthday party, I wrote the invitation on an easel, photographed that and made copies. The parents were impressed.

Q.Ah, birthday parties. Today those events cost a fortune.

A. We made our own play dough.

Q.OK. Let's hear some of these money-saving-kid-entertaining tips for grandparents.

A.Well, there's the library. You are not as rushed as parents are and can take the kids there for fun. Look up the free programming.

Go to museums. They're usually free on Tuesdays.

Q.I could have thought of those tips.

A. Can you make play dough?

Here's the recipe: In a pan put 1 cup of flour, cup of salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 cup of warm water. Put pan on burner over low heat and mix ingredients. Add food coloring. Turn out and knead into dough. Store in a plastic bag. The dough will last three months.

Once you make the play dough you can find action figures and other toys to incorporate into scenes the kids can make. Or for a richer play environment, use a cookie cutter, things like that.

Q.Let's make chalk.

A. You need 2 tablespoons of tempura paint (available at most craft stores), 3 tablespoons plaster of paris, cup water. Mix paint and water in a paper cup and stir in plaster of paris until thick like cream. Let the mixture harden — about two hours — peel off the paper and it's chalk.

The kids can color on the sidewalk and it washes off.

Q.You come from a large family?