Summer Fun at Home

Summertime is finally here and the kids are officially out of school!

With the beautiful weather the kids (and parents alike) might start to feel a little anxious to go outside after being home for many months. In our current situation it might not be possible to go out to many places. Still, there are many great indoor and outdoor activities that can be done at home to still enjoy the summer! Many of these activities can be done with materials you may have lying around the house, and it’ll be fun not only for the little ones but for the entire family.

Some indoor activities are:

1. Make slime: This project won’t only keep the kids entertained but it’ll also help with their developing motor skills! In a bowl pour one cup of warm water, add in drops of food coloring of your choice, then slowly stir in two cups of cornstarch with a spoon. As you start mixing in the cornstarch the slime will start to form and you’ll be all done!

2. Bake together: Baking together not only is a great bonding experience for the entire family, but you also get to enjoy delicious desserts too! From cookies to cupcakes there are multiple simple recipes online that the whole family will enjoy. Many recipes can be found here.

3. Make ice cream: Who doesn’t enjoy ice cream on a warm summer day? Making homemade ice cream is a perfect way to beat the summer heat and is a great mini science project for the kids too! The recipe for homemade ice cream can be found here.

4. Make play dough: A longtime favorite of any preschooler is play dough, and what’s more exciting than being able to make your own at home. The best part is that you’ll be able to make as much as you want in any color you’d like! One of the many play dough recipes can be found here.

5. Coloring time: With so much technology around us, being in front of a screen for most of the day can be overwhelming for kids and parents. Having a “technology break” to sit down and color is an engaging activity and a great way to de-stress.

Some outdoor activities are:

1. Backyard obstacle course: One way to soak up some sun after a while of being indoors is to set up an obstacle course. Any type of object from sticks to toys and a little bit of imagination can help set up the obstacle course. This activity is a great way to have some fun with the kids in the backyard.

2. Drawing w/ chalk: A classic way to entertain the kids is by drawing with chalk on the sidewalk or the backyard. The kids can let their creativity roam free by drawing or the family can play a game of hop-scotch together. With chalk the possibilities are endless to enjoy the summer weather!

3. Picnic: A simple way to enjoy the outdoors and to have a change of scenery is by having a family picnic in the park or in the backyard! Eating outside is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

4. Painting outside: One fun little project that the kids will enjoy is by painting outside. Finding rocks or leaves from the backyard and painting them is a fun project for everyone in the family to do.

5. Gardening: With the summer in full swing gardening is another great way for the family to spend time together and for the kids to enjoy nature! Having the kids plant flowers and see how they grow throughout the season is also a fun mini science project!

There are multiple ways to have fun with the whole family this summer at home,

and here are some websites with more ideas!

https://www.verywellfamily.com/summer-fun-ideas-kids-and-parents-3542627 https://www.unicefkidpower.org/summer-activities-kids/