After being cooped up for months we all just can't wait to get outside and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. As long as the humidity is not super high I am usually outside with my children soaking up some sun and having a great time. After we slather on some sunscreen it's time to play!
Jumping in the pool and running through sprinklers are always fun but sometimes you just want to do something that's a little different. Now these ideas are easy to put together and need little to no prep work. The items you need for most of these you probably either have in your house already or you can buy super cheap from you local dollar store.
So if you need some quick and simple ideas for how to entertain your children for the summer then here are seven great things to try:
Mud Bugs
This one can be loads of messy fun! You will need two buckets or bowls, a brush (we used a cheap toothbrush) mud, water and some small toys like play bugs or animals. I just grabbed a small amount of dirt from the garden and mixed in a little water to make it a nice mushy consistency.
Toss in the bug toys and let your child get their hands dirty! Once the bugs are thoroughly muddy use the bucket with clean water and toothbrush to clean them up. Simple and messy but so much fun for little kids. You can also replace the bugs with whatever toys you have available. Use toys or items that do not have small holes or cracks that will be too hard to clean or that could become moldy on the inside. Try using bath toys, animal figures, army men, or small figurines. You could even use coins and make a messy treasure hunt out of the activity!
Water Play Bucket
Don't have a water table handy for the kids on a hot day? You don't need one! This activity cost me nothing and my kids (ages 4 and 1) both really enjoyed it. All you need is a bucket (something wide with low walls works best but you can use whatever you have on hand) water and some toys. We have used bath toys and also random plastic cups, bowls and measuring cups which work well.
It's portable, if you already have a bucket it can be free to put together and it still lets the kids cool off on hot summer days. This is also a great idea for travel whether it's camping or going up north for a weekend. Load up the bucket with essentials that you would need anyways for your trip and then just fill it up with water out of a sink or faucet at your destination. No pool, bulky water table or sprinkler needed!
Backyard Can Bowling
This activity is great because it also uses some recycled materials which many of you know that I'm a huge fan of. Save up a few empty cans and clean them thoroughly. Using craft or spray paint, decorate them any way you would like. If you don't have paint available you could even wrap them in colored construction paper or just leave them plain. Once they are ready set them up like pins, grab a ball and have fun bowling! The dollar store has a ton of small foam play balls with cute characters on them for $1 each if you need to buy one. You can also use sidewalk chalk to create a scoreboard and keep track of everyone's points for some added friendly competition.
If you are doing this activity with children who are very young or they have issues keeping the ball straight use some pool noodles to create bumpers. Use small rocks or wood-chips to keep them in place if they move around and let your little one have some fun.
Summer Crafts
Just because it's summer doesn't mean the weather is always going to be sunshine and blue skies. For those rainy days where you are stuck inside try doing a summer themed craft with your little ones. These are a great way to still enjoy the season while staying indoors. If you need some inspiration check out these easy to do crafts that are sure to make for a fun afternoon:
Large Scale Sidewalk Chalk City
This activity is a little bit more involved and can be very large in scale depending on the area you have available to use. We have a large driveway and connected patio so it worked out perfectly for this activity. Use the chalk to create a life-sized street or path for your little one. Add whatever loops, turns or twists you can and use the space you have available. Then you can either leave it as is or add different activity stations. Create a fire department, school, park or whatever your child can imagine.
After the city is 'built' then using their bike, scooter, roller-skates or even just walking, explore the city. Encourage them to stay in the lines and have fun with some imaginative play. Have them pretend they're a pizza delivery person or mail carrier delivering packages to the different locations. We even went a step further and made some play mail and packages out of recycled cardboard from a cereal box.
Noodle Ball
Pool noodles are so versatile and can be used for many different things. For this activity you need a couple of noodles, a lightweight or inflatable ball and a few laundry baskets or items to make a goal.
Set up the field and place the laundry baskets where you would like the goals to go. Then using only the noodles try hitting the ball into the goals. If you use an actual soccer ball or one that's heavier it will be difficult to move with the noodles. As an added bonus this is a very psychical activity so let the kids burn off some of that energy!
Painting with Water
It doesn't get more simple than this one. Fill up a few buckets or cups with water and put them outside on the ground. Using some paintbrushes (you can buy small or large one from the dollar store) or even some sponges let your child 'paint' designs on the ground or even the side of your house.
It's just water so it won't leave any unwanted marks but your child will still feel like they are really painting. Let it dry or fade away then do it again and again.
If you tried any of these leave a comment below with how it went. Which activity did your child like the most? Are there any other easy outdoor activities you like to do with your child?