Summer is here! Finally! We’ve had a slow approach to summer this year, but it seems more often than not the weathers looking up, and I am trying to get us outside as much as possible. Here are some simple, easy activities that are very popular around here (and a few more complicated things I can’t wait to try!):
1. Sidewalk chalk. We get it CHEAP at Target, both their store brand (often in the dollar bins) or the more expensive (and nicer quality) Crayola brand (still pretty inexpensive, though). We do it dry on the front porch, walk, and driveway, or mix in water (dipping it in the water, or dumping water on the ground and then drawing on wet pavement) for a brighter look.
2. Water play. Sometimes we use a simple water table, but lately, its been just tubs of water on the ground. Kiddie pools and sprinklers are always fun too! Add in different toys for a new experience every day. Current faves include plastic animals, "little people", watering cans and buckets. Oh, the endless fun.
3. Bubbles. How can you go wrong with bubbles? Here are some recipes for homemade bubbles, which often works better than the store bought stuff (I do get lazy and buy it, too, though).
4. Digging. We have child-sized shovels, along with hand trowels and sand shovels. A children’s wheelbarrow and some dump trucks are nice additions, if you’d like. Its nice to set aside a specific area for kids to dig in, unless you don’t mind little feet stomping on and unearthing your other plants!
5. Painting with water – paintbrushes plus a bucket of water plus bored kids equals fun for all. Check out my post about this for more info and pictures!
6. Scavenger hunt – We did one of these for the first time at a birthday party recently, and it was a hit! Just make up a list of things to find in the yard (or park, walk, beach, etc) and write them down, with checkboxes next to them so the finder can feel the satisfaction of crossing them off. Include simple pictures if you want for pre-readers! If you are collecting lots of things, carrying a bag (ziplock or cloth) to put them in helps. Some things to list: a stick, a (black, gray, white) rock, a (pink, yellow, tiny, red) flower, a (green, red, brown, fallen) leaf, a bird, an airplane, water, a puddle, a boat, a truck, etc, etc etc. You can make it more challenging by adding descriptors, less so by being general. Make it larger scale for the car (grocery store, gas station, fire engine) or just super simple for toddlers in the backyard.
7. Hit the schoolyard (with bikes & balls) — if school is out, the playground may be empty (check first about summer school!). We are planning to head to our local elementary school playground often this summer — it is close by, has tons of open paved areas for biking, its fenced, and has the usual slides and climbing equipment as well, and is usually deserted. Perfect!
8. Build some outdoor blocks — this is on my "to do" list, after reading about it over on Filth Wizardry. Looks like fun! I love the creative, open-ended play that these can encourage. Right now we just need to find some wood!
9. Music wall – Here’s another fabulous one from Filth Wizardry, love her!!! It just looks so fun. Do you think it would be too loud for the neighbors? I don’t think so, especially if we only do it during the daytime hours, when folks are awake and at work or school…
10. Outdoor white board art – Another idea that I’ve heard about and am planning to try is to mount a white board (here’s an example of it over at Playborhood). Its apparently made by mounting weather-safe outdoor white-board type material onto an existing fence or wall — I am not exactly sure what it is called but its available cheap at home improvement stores, I have heard? Then, let your little Picasso’s draw or paint (with dry erase markers or outdoor-friendly paints), to their hearts content. Messy pudding finger painting sounds especially appealing with this!
What have I missed? I’d love to hear what your kids love best, or ideas you are thinking about trying. Let’s get outside and PLAY!
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I love these ideas and I love Filth Wizardry! Thanks so much for recommending her in this post. Her ideas are just as good as yours.