On a particularly whiny day (it's so hot and going outside is not a good idea with the heat and the bugs), I broke out the paints for the kids.

They used finger paints and potatoes cut up into a variety of shapes.  They could dip the potatoes into the finger paints and stamp them or use them as brushes, and, of course, they could use their fingers.  Juliana really enjoys doing these things.  She loves to paint and color.  Liam is indifferent.

It kept them from whining for a while anyway.