This can be tricky, especially if you have a world wise kid. It’s all in the presentation. Make simple activities seem even more fun by presenting them in a creative way.Then let them be, let them explore, let them create, and allow some time to get messy!
I like the idea of making cards, one for each activity, and then having you child randomly choose one when you need something to do. Or let your child take their pick from three that you have already chosen earlier.
I have also seen dice with pictures on the sides depicting different activities to do. I bet you could easily make a version of dice out of paper.
Think outside the box!
Here are some things to add to your list:
- Color- make it simple or add some spice by making your own crayons first!
- Check out crayola.com for a whole list of summer craft ideas
- Blow bubbles and make your own bubble solution:
1 Cup Water, 2 TBSP Light Karo Syrup or Glycerin, 4 TBSP Dishwashing Liquid
- Hide-and-Seek
- Play Chase or Tag- older kids will probably like coming up with variations like these
- Put on plays with finger puppets or hand puppets
- Make sock puppets or paper bag puppets
- Sing songs
- Make a band with different instruments- make what you don’t have
- Collect rocks or seashells- sort or decorate them
- Make an obstacle course- use furniture, blankets, whatever you can find
- Make a fort
- Go for a Nature Walk- Make a list (or pictures) of what you might find and check them off as you go
- Make a car, rocket ship, house out of a big box
- Read!! Join your local library’s Summer Reading Program
- Picnic in the park
- Fingerpaint- use things like shaving cream or pudding for something different
- Make your own play-dough
- Make a bean bag toss game
- Dance to music- older kids can create routines and put on a show
- Make your own puzzle
- Pasta necklaces
- Dress-up
- Scavenger Hunt
- Treasure Hunt
- Make and frost cookies
- Make juice popsicles
- Record each other on a tape recorder
- Make paper hats
- Give piggie back or horse rides
- Collect flowers- we love picking dandelions around here!
- Make paper flowers out of coffee filters- from the easy to the more difficult
- Play with squirt bottles filled with water
- Make binoculars and go bird watching
- Use a magnifying glass and go bug hunting
- Act out a story from a book
- Draw with sidewalk chalk
- Make a superhero costume out of what you have on hand
- Play “Red Light, Green light”
- Play “Simon Says”
- Check out Regal’s Free Family Film Festival
- Check out one of Mollie Katzen’s cookbooks for kids from the library and try some yummy recipes- we are huge fans of Salad People!
- Fly a kite
- Make horseshoe game
This is just the start, there are so many things you can do this summer! Encourage those imaginations and let the creativity fly!