Build a Zucchini Racer

When your garden is overrun by zucchini and your family rebels at the prospect of eating yet another loaf of zucchini bread, turn your bumper crop into a fleet of funky veggie-mobiles. With this simple yet creative activity, your child will practice her fine motor skills while creating a toy from everyday objects. Bonus: The chance to play creatively with food may even turn your child into a veggie lover!

What You Need:

• Small to medium-sized zucchini (about 8-10 inches in length). You may want to keep a couple extra on hand, along with a healthy dip, in case your child is inspired to nibble during the project.
• Dowels, wire, or pipe cleaners
• 1½-inch wooden wheels (available at craft stores)
• Decorative art supplies such as stickers, paint, glitter glue, etc.

What to Do:

1. Lay zucchini on your child's workspace.
2. Help her poke two dowels, wires, or pipe cleaners through the zucchini: one at the front and one at the back. These will be the axles! It may be easier to poke holes in the zucchini with a toothpick before inserting the axles.
3. Attach a wheel to each axle on either side of the zucchini.
4. Personalize the racer using decorative art supplies. Add eyes, hair, spots, sparkles—the only limit is your child's imagination!

Once the racer is constructed, build on the activity by creating a “road” on a large sheet of paper, making traffic signs from cardboard, or constructing a ramp to roll the zucchini racer down.