As a parent, you know the saying about the best-laid plans. Sometimes you need to come up with a way to calm or entertain your child without much planning. Here are some ways to pull a little magic out of your hat.

Makeshift Shelters

Every child likes to create pretend places to play in. This activity gets you involved in the fun — a great bonding experience.

• Help your child use the building materials to set up a fantasy environment where she can engage in pretend play for many hours. The shelter may become a tent, a fort, a cabin, a boat, a lighthouse, or a farm — the possibilities are endless.

Tea Party

This activity is fun for boys and girls. Instead of dolls, your child can invite favorite action figures or stuffed animals. This does not have to be an elaborate party. You can use real materials, but pretend props work just as well.

• Let your child help you plan and set up the event. What can you use for decorations? What will you serve?

• Follow the level of your child's interest. You may simply need to put a few paper plates on a table, or your child may enjoy making placeholders, party hats, and so on.

• Attend the party and be a good guest — enjoy the refreshments, and keep the conversation lively!

Rainy-Day Pictures

Do not despair the next time rainy weather keeps your child indoors. This fun rainy-day picture will help chase the blues away.

• Let your child use the crayons to color a rainy-day picture.

• Show your child how to make paper-and-yarn umbrellas. Fold the baking cups (which will double as umbrella tops) in half and glue to the rainy-day picture. Glue yarn “handles” to the picture underneath each umbrella top.

Indoor Snow Fun

Try these fun ideas when it is too cold to go out and play in the snow, or if you live in a warmer climate without snow. To add authenticity, give your child mittens and a scarf to dress up in while she is playing.

• Drape the white sheets over furniture and on the floor to create a wintry look to the room.

• With your child's help, toss around the cotton balls and pretend that they are giant snowflakes.

• Wrap pairs of white socks into balls and use them for a pretend snowball fight.

• Put the potato flakes in a pan for sensory pretend play. If real snow is available, bring some in and let your child play with it in a contained area.

Puzzle Hunt

Here's a new way to interest your child in puzzles and problem solving. It is best to use a puzzle that your child knows and can complete. Jumbo floor puzzles work best for this activity, but you can use any favorite jigsaw puzzle.

• Remove one piece of the jigsaw puzzle and set it on a table. Hide the remaining puzzle pieces. You can choose how hard you want the search to be. For a younger child, you may wish to scatter the pieces in plain view and face up.

• Bring your child into the room. Show her the single piece and explain that she needs to find the missing pieces in order to complete the puzzle.