This week I get to be apart of the "5 Days of..." series again!
I think the number one thing most people think of when they hear "Summer" is OUTSIDE.
Being outside in the warm {or cooking HOT} weather is involved in most "summer" activities: swimming, BBQ, beach vacations, swinging, lake trips, sports, slides, sprinklers, camp-outs, and so much more.
With my littles being 5 {this Saturday, sniff sniff}, 3.5, and 2.5-years old, we can't spend the entire day outside without heat exhaustion, sunburns, and major meltdowns BUT we do spend tons of time outside. Especially since in the past we haven't had a place to play outside but the this year we are staying in a house that has a huge deck AND we will be moving into our new home that has a BACKYARD in the next few weeks!!! Here are some of the things we have been doing outside and a few more we plan to do:
Permanent Outside Toys
Toy box {basket/tub}:
- Chalk
- Bubbles
- Sports Equipment
- Stilts {homemade- how-to coming soon}
- Goggles
- Trampoline {we have a small "exercise" one now but plan to get a larger one when they're a bit older}
- Riding Toys
- Dog {entertaining all year round}
- Bug Nets
- Swing Set {coming soon!}
Occasionally Setup
- Swimming Pool
Although my kids do love swimming, for my and my littles, there's a lot less stress with a baby pool. Which ends up being used as a "water table" along with their water toys. - Water Toys
Anything that can be used to fill, dump, strain, measure, float, splash, etc, we consider a "water toy".
- Corn Box
We do corn instead of sand to avoid being the neighborhood litter box & for easier kids clean-up. We also keep it in one of those flat "under-bed" plastic lidded tubs for easy access, clean-up, usability, and cleanliness.
- Sprinkler
We have a simple round lawn sprinkler that hooks to a water hose. This is more than entertaining placed on the ground but if you want to switch it up you can make a shower-like contraption using a rack.
When we move to our new house, my husband is also going to build us a PVC pipe sprinkler that the kids can run under adding creative games like "car wash" to our list of outdoor games. - Play in the rain.
This is something we do in "non-stormy" rain. ie: no thunder/lighting
- Paint
We haven't tried washable paints but that could be fun as well naked or in a manageable place. Right now, using water to "paint" has been just as fun. Add some wet sidewalk-chalk & there's some color - Kites
We don't leave these out all the time...mainly because they're a booger if the kids get the string strung everywhere. But with supervision, its oober fun.
- Parks!!!
Take advantage of FREE public parks. Try them all in your area.
Now, for those days where it's storming outside or just too stank'n hot to brave the heat, we have plenty of indoors activities as well.
Indoor Fun
For more awesome SUMMER Entertainment, check out my Pinterest board, "The Ones about KID Stuff" where there are tons of other super creative mom's and their ideas!
The rest of the week includes:
Tuesday-- 5 Days of Summer {little style}: Food
Wednesday-- 5 Days of Summer {little style}: Rest
Thursday-- 5 Days of Summer {little style}: Learning
Friday-- 5 Days of Summer: Summary & a GIVEAWAY
great articles – pinned some to the 5 days pinboard and I’m adding to the 5 days fb page too
kelli- AdventurezInChildRearing recently posted..5 days of summer . . . Adventure for boys: Camping
Thanks so my much! Can’t wait to hit up all the other 5 days of summer posts!