Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Fun and FREE (or almost) Summer Activities

Today someone was asking for some fun and free, or low-cost, activity ideas for summer.
I thought I'd share a few here. While I was thinking of a few ideas, I also thought I should do them more!
I like activities that require very little supervision and preferably outdoors. This helps Mom to catch her breath, switch the laundry or mop a floor. 

Make a comment and add your ideas!
P.S.- Any child who uses the "B" word (as in Bored), obviously needs help finding something to do. Usually a time or two of washing windows or dusting ceiling fans will help get their imagination back in order!


*Outdoor scavenger hunt- Make a list (yellow flower, catch a lizard, worm, butterfly, heart-shaped leaf, etc). Give them a time limit (30-45 mins or so). Whichever team gets the most things crossed off gets the first choice of the outdoor snack (popsicles or homemade snow cones).
*Sprinklers under the trampoline
*One day a week= Park Day
*Each child gets a small space to plant and care for a flower/vegie garden (very small - like 2' sq). Plant, water, sow.
*Nature Hike - collect favorite bark, moss, pinecones, rocks, etc. Make "fairy" houses (for boys name it something manly!)
*Reading time outside under the trees, complete with smoothies
*Marbles!
*Start a bug collection. Children can make bug houses!
*Sidewalk murals with chalk. Make homemade chalk from plaster paris and food coloring, using old soap or ice cube molds.

*Creative flavor ice cream contest -  http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/homemade-ice-cream-in-a-bag-684806/
 *Roller hockey in the garage - move out the cars
*Roast marshmallow in a fire or bbq pit. Make smores. (Mom can make the fire, then sit back and read a book while the kids to the roasting).
*Take out the Halloween costume box and let them have at it. They'll be busy for a couple hours.
*Girls have a manicure/pedicure party. Don't like nailpolish? Let them use poster paint and small brush for easy removal.


*Empty refrigerator box. Enough said. 
 

2 comments:

  1. Teach them the piano, then they can play on their own. Many advantages and blessings from knowing how to play. Good music in the home is a great spiritual strength.

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  2. I 'm excited for that, with the summer activities, but I just look at people who are helping out at summer camps or going to the residential programs or getting internships and I feel like I won't be having as much fun or being as productive - so I was just wondering how important summer activities are?

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