Summertime is outdoor time in our house. The sun is a magnet for my little one. He checks the window and if there’s no rain its coffee time, potty time, then all day play time. (My muscles just cringed remembering summer is almost here) So here’s a few things from our outdoor fun to-do-list:
Scavenger Hunts – this is a great two-in one activity. After you’ve hidden the items in the yard, help your little ones draw a treasure map to seek out the prizes (educational). Go another step and make it Pirate play and wear bandanas and play swords. Place toy sharks here and there and add an obstacle to get around it (there’s your added exercise too) If you aren’t the most agile person or have mobility issues, make a chair “the ship” and the kids “your shipmates”. Make a wheel to steer and off you’ll go to adventure.
Dollar tree multi-packs, thrift store grab bags, occasionally a real coin or paper money will excite them even more!
- Obstacle course – Again this great for your child’s imagination. Hopscotch on the sidewalk. A place to make mud pies in under a minute. Outdoor Jenga or stacking cardboard boxes. Water Balloon Spoon Race. Nerf gun target competition. I like this interchangeable style for use with bean bags, balls, or nerf bullets. Or go crazy with water balloons. (Amazon.com: KKONES Shooting Game Toy for Boys – 2 Player Toy Foam Blaster Air Guns, 24 Foam Bullet Balls Popper & Standing Shooting Target, Birthday Gifts for Age 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10-12 Years Old Kids, Girls : Toys & Games) Boats across the water. (straws and a pool or small tub of water) First to 5 gets a prize. Who can blow the biggest bubble. Use a timer and big poster board to make it really special for them to celebrate their accomplishments. Note I don’t say winner…. Our rule is everyone wins when they have fun. You do what makes you the happiest and keeps the peace in the group.
- Picnics for Pals – Boys, Girls, Stuffies, Action Heroes, Cousins, Besties, come one come all…. tea parties to chips and jammers. Everybody gets a plate and cup. We use this time for duck-duck goose, hide and seek, read or tell me a story, I spy, whatever your favorite games are.
- Botanical Gardens or Parks in the community- I am very peculiar about which parks we go to. No drug residue, no trash about, no homeless persons. I tend to ask around and look myself before I take my child. A clean working bathroom is an absolute must. I also look for shaded areas to cool off if we plan on being there for a while. Other than gas to get there, if it’s free, safe, and well maintained why not take advantage of it?
I would love to start an “It’s a Grand day out” for my community in the upstate of South Carolina. Once a month meeting with the grandchildren at the park would be wonderful! Fellowship and education are powerful motivators. Drinks and snacks sound really good too! Let me know if you’re interested.
Are any of these groups available where you live? If not, start one. What are waiting for? Where are your favorite places to take your children? Send me the information and I’ll post it on the blog.