10 Fun Things To Do With Your Kids On A Hot Summer Day
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the kids are bored, and it is HOT outside. Keeping the kids cooped up inside all day usually works on Mom & Dad’s patience and nerves, so how do you find ways to keep them occupied and spend time with them without breaking the bank?
Never fear, here are some creative ideas to help you!
1. Make some homemade Popsicles.
Every kid loves Popsicles and it helps to cool them down after a hard day of playing in the dirt.
You will need: kool-aid, a pitcher, sugar or sweetener, toothpicks, plastic wrap, and an ice cube tray.
Cost: less than $7.
Have your kids help you prepare the kool-aid of their choice. Pour the kool-aid into the ice cube tray and place the plastic wrap over the tray. Have your kids gently poke the toothpicks through the plastic wrap so each ice cube has a toothpick. Then place the tray in the freezer. In an hour or so, your kids will have homemade Popsicles to enjoy that they helped to make. (You can also add small candies to the Popsicles as an extra treat!! Find a package of small, semi hard candy and pour a few in each tray before pouring the kool-aid in. Your kids will love the extra treat!)
2. Have a picnic!
But not just any picnic…make it special for your children. If you have boys, make them “Army lunches” or “Space lunches”. If you have girls, make them “Fairy food” or “Princess packs”.
You will need: see below for what you will need for boys or girls.
Cost: less than $15.
For army or space lunches, you will need: foil, brown paper bags, treats in small individual packages, and food! Just prepare their lunch like normal, a sandwich, chips, a small treat bag, and a drink - except wrap as much of the food in foil as possible. On the front of the bag, write a special name. For example, if your child’s name is Chris, write Captain Chris or Commander Chris. Make up a story or draw a map of your yard to show them where their base is. Then ship them off to battle or space outside to eat their goodies.
For fairy food or princess packs, you will need: colored plastic wrap, white or light colored paper bags, a fairy or princess treat, and food! Just prepare their lunch like normal, a sandwich, chips, a treat, and a drink. Except wrap as much of the food in colored wrap as possible. On the front of the bag, make sure to write a special name for your little fairies or princesses. For example, if your child’s name is Mandi, write “Mandirina” (or some other form of her name for a fairy name) or Princess Mandi. Make them up a story and a colorful map of your yard to show them where the magic forest or castle is. Then send them off on their journey.
These lunches are always hits and will keep them occupied for a good hour or two and will normally send them off into some military or magical adventure for hours!
3. Scavenger hunts.
No matter if you have a small yard or a large yard or no yard at all, you can quickly plan a scavenger hunt for your kids.
You will need: small items from your house (clothespins, plastic spoons, wrapped hard candies, etc) and a place to hunt.
Cost: Free!
Make a master list of all the items you have collected for your hunt. Have your kids hide their eyes while you or a partner hides the items outside or in a small park. Then give each child a small bag or basket for their hunt along with a list of the items that they are to find. (Make sure that the kids know the boundaries of the game if you are playing in a park or a large area so they don’t wander off!) Send them out on their hunt. Kids love to play hide-and-seek and this is just a different version that they will love. It’s a great way to get them up and exercising and gives them something active to do with their minds.
When they return, count the items and find who has the most. Have a treat for each child so no one feels left out or hurt. Happy hunting!
4. Play in the sprinkler.
This has always been a favorite of every kid I know, and I’m sure you probably played it when you were a kid!
You will need: a sprinkler and a water hose.
Cost: free – again - except for the water bill! (If you live in an apartment and they have a pool, go swimming!! Or find a friend or family member who won’t mind you soaking their grass for a while.)
Set up the sprinkler in a large, flat area so the kids have plenty of room to run and jump. Then, create a game or ask them to show you their best leaps and bounds through the water. This is another great way to get your kids up and moving while cooling them off and having fun.
Your kids will also love it if you play in the water with them. Don’t worry if anyone will see you, who cares?! It’s fun and it will remind you of when you were a child and cool you off as well.
5. Plant seeds or flowers with your children.
This is usually done in the morning or before lunch.
You will need: seeds or purchased flowers, an old spoon or small spade, and an area to plant in.
Cost: under $10 unless you go crazy!
Have your children pick a spot or give them an area to call their own. If you’re planting seeds, let them go wild. Give them an old spoon and a packet and show them how to plant the first one. Kids love to plant things and watch the seed grow. This is also a good time for you to work on your flowers or garden along side them. Not only will your kids enjoy this activity, they will have something they are responsible to care for by watering the seeds or flowers each day. They will love seeing the seeds and flowers grow day after day.
6. Make a collage of funny pictures
Pull out your Sunday paper or those old magazines you didn’t know what to do with!
You will need: old papers, glue stick, scissors, sturdy paper or poster board.
Cost: under $10.
Have your children pick out (or allow them to cut out) as many pictures as you think might cover their paper. Set a theme like funny pictures, pretty pictures, toys they like, flowers, etc. After they have cut or gathered all their pictures, give them a glue stick and let them go crazy. They will have a ball putting the pictures on the page and arranging them to make their own work of art. After their art is dry, have them find a place in their room to hang it so they will always have a reminder of the fun it is to create something!
7. “Custom Kool-Aid”
Allow your kids imagination and taste buds to run wild!
You will need: a two-quart pitcher, several different flavors of kool-aid, sugar (or a substitute), and glasses.
Cost: under $10.
Fill the pitcher with water and sugar to taste. Have your kids pick out two flavors of kool-aid. Pour both kool-aid packets in the pitcher and stir! Your children can now name their “custom kool-aid” and have fun drinking it! Who knows, you might even start a trend at home!
8. Fuzzy Floats
This treat is great for a hot day!
You will need: a two-liter of lemon-lime soda, a half-gallon of rainbow sherbet, straws, spoons, and cups.
Cost: under $10.
Place a small scoop of rainbow sherbet in each cup. SLOWLY pour lemon-lime soda into the cups. The soda mixed with the sherbet will foam with “fuzz” that won’t go down, so make sure to pour carefully and slowly! Fill the cup until the “fuzz” pokes over the top of the cup but doesn’t spill over the side.
Stick a straw and spoon in each float and enjoy! This treat is a low-fat, low-sugar way to cool your kids off after a hot summer day in the sun! (Mom and Dad will enjoy these treats as well, so dig in!)
9. Keepsake Handprints
This activity requires a flat place where you can leave the handprints to dry at least overnight.
You will need: flour, water, salt, cooking spray, a mixing bowl, a spoon, measuring cups, toothpicks, old newspaper, and food coloring.
Cost: around $15.
Put 1 cup of flour, ¼ cup salt in mixing bowl, four or five drops of food coloring, and slowly stir in ¾ cup water. Stir in water until the flour mix becomes dough. Knead the dough until it forms a ball in the bowl. Separate small pieces of the dough and roll into balls. Place the newspaper on a flat surface and spray with cooking spray. Press the dough ball onto the newspaper until it becomes flat but still round (or whatever the shape is you desire) making sure the dough is still about ½ to ¼ inch thick. Have your kids press their hand down into the middle of the flattened dough and gently press each finger to make sure all have the same indention. Gently lift hand out of dough, making sure no spots are too thin or stick. Then, use the toothpick to write your child’s name and the date in the dough around the handprint. Allow to dry at least overnight or until the dough is hard enough to lift off the newspaper.
You can also purchase small plate stands at any local craft store for around a dollar each to display these works of art. These make wonderful gifts for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, you name it! Or you can keep them as your own reminder of how small their hands once were!
10. Folded Paint Flowers
This activity is a little messy, so make sure that your kids have on old clothes.
You will need: sturdy paper (like card stock), acrylic paint, old newspaper, and a flat surface.
Cost: around $10.
You can purchase acrylic paint at any local craft store for around $.40 to $.60 each and they come in every color of the rainbow. Line the table or flat surface with old newspaper and have your children put on an old shirt that you don’t mind getting paint on (just in case)! Pre-fold your child’s paper and then flatten back out before putting paint on. Have your child pick out what color they would like their flowers to be. Squirt a small amount of each color on ONE side of the folded paper and then place a drop of white or yellow in the center of each color. Drop a line of green paint down the middle of the fold and make sure to drop some leaves in! Then have your child help you re-fold the paper. Gently and slowly press the paper together to allow the paint to spread to both sides of the paper. Hold gently pressure on the paper for about 10 – 20 seconds. Slowly peel paper apart and see the beautiful flowers you have created! Allow the flowers to dry and then have your kids hang them on their wall or window to enjoy!
You can make variations on any of these ideas to fit you or your children’s tastes. These are all fun, easy things that you can do with your children that they will enjoy as well. (These ideas have been tried and tested on my own children and nieces and nephews and have all been huge hits with little stress on Dad and me!) Happy playing!
Never fear, here are some creative ideas to help you!
1. Make some homemade Popsicles.
Every kid loves Popsicles and it helps to cool them down after a hard day of playing in the dirt.
You will need: kool-aid, a pitcher, sugar or sweetener, toothpicks, plastic wrap, and an ice cube tray.
Cost: less than $7.
Have your kids help you prepare the kool-aid of their choice. Pour the kool-aid into the ice cube tray and place the plastic wrap over the tray. Have your kids gently poke the toothpicks through the plastic wrap so each ice cube has a toothpick. Then place the tray in the freezer. In an hour or so, your kids will have homemade Popsicles to enjoy that they helped to make. (You can also add small candies to the Popsicles as an extra treat!! Find a package of small, semi hard candy and pour a few in each tray before pouring the kool-aid in. Your kids will love the extra treat!)
2. Have a picnic!
But not just any picnic…make it special for your children. If you have boys, make them “Army lunches” or “Space lunches”. If you have girls, make them “Fairy food” or “Princess packs”.
You will need: see below for what you will need for boys or girls.
Cost: less than $15.
For army or space lunches, you will need: foil, brown paper bags, treats in small individual packages, and food! Just prepare their lunch like normal, a sandwich, chips, a small treat bag, and a drink - except wrap as much of the food in foil as possible. On the front of the bag, write a special name. For example, if your child’s name is Chris, write Captain Chris or Commander Chris. Make up a story or draw a map of your yard to show them where their base is. Then ship them off to battle or space outside to eat their goodies.
For fairy food or princess packs, you will need: colored plastic wrap, white or light colored paper bags, a fairy or princess treat, and food! Just prepare their lunch like normal, a sandwich, chips, a treat, and a drink. Except wrap as much of the food in colored wrap as possible. On the front of the bag, make sure to write a special name for your little fairies or princesses. For example, if your child’s name is Mandi, write “Mandirina” (or some other form of her name for a fairy name) or Princess Mandi. Make them up a story and a colorful map of your yard to show them where the magic forest or castle is. Then send them off on their journey.
These lunches are always hits and will keep them occupied for a good hour or two and will normally send them off into some military or magical adventure for hours!
3. Scavenger hunts.
No matter if you have a small yard or a large yard or no yard at all, you can quickly plan a scavenger hunt for your kids.
You will need: small items from your house (clothespins, plastic spoons, wrapped hard candies, etc) and a place to hunt.
Cost: Free!
Make a master list of all the items you have collected for your hunt. Have your kids hide their eyes while you or a partner hides the items outside or in a small park. Then give each child a small bag or basket for their hunt along with a list of the items that they are to find. (Make sure that the kids know the boundaries of the game if you are playing in a park or a large area so they don’t wander off!) Send them out on their hunt. Kids love to play hide-and-seek and this is just a different version that they will love. It’s a great way to get them up and exercising and gives them something active to do with their minds.
When they return, count the items and find who has the most. Have a treat for each child so no one feels left out or hurt. Happy hunting!
4. Play in the sprinkler.
This has always been a favorite of every kid I know, and I’m sure you probably played it when you were a kid!
You will need: a sprinkler and a water hose.
Cost: free – again - except for the water bill! (If you live in an apartment and they have a pool, go swimming!! Or find a friend or family member who won’t mind you soaking their grass for a while.)
Set up the sprinkler in a large, flat area so the kids have plenty of room to run and jump. Then, create a game or ask them to show you their best leaps and bounds through the water. This is another great way to get your kids up and moving while cooling them off and having fun.
Your kids will also love it if you play in the water with them. Don’t worry if anyone will see you, who cares?! It’s fun and it will remind you of when you were a child and cool you off as well.
5. Plant seeds or flowers with your children.
This is usually done in the morning or before lunch.
You will need: seeds or purchased flowers, an old spoon or small spade, and an area to plant in.
Cost: under $10 unless you go crazy!
Have your children pick a spot or give them an area to call their own. If you’re planting seeds, let them go wild. Give them an old spoon and a packet and show them how to plant the first one. Kids love to plant things and watch the seed grow. This is also a good time for you to work on your flowers or garden along side them. Not only will your kids enjoy this activity, they will have something they are responsible to care for by watering the seeds or flowers each day. They will love seeing the seeds and flowers grow day after day.
6. Make a collage of funny pictures
Pull out your Sunday paper or those old magazines you didn’t know what to do with!
You will need: old papers, glue stick, scissors, sturdy paper or poster board.
Cost: under $10.
Have your children pick out (or allow them to cut out) as many pictures as you think might cover their paper. Set a theme like funny pictures, pretty pictures, toys they like, flowers, etc. After they have cut or gathered all their pictures, give them a glue stick and let them go crazy. They will have a ball putting the pictures on the page and arranging them to make their own work of art. After their art is dry, have them find a place in their room to hang it so they will always have a reminder of the fun it is to create something!
7. “Custom Kool-Aid”
Allow your kids imagination and taste buds to run wild!
You will need: a two-quart pitcher, several different flavors of kool-aid, sugar (or a substitute), and glasses.
Cost: under $10.
Fill the pitcher with water and sugar to taste. Have your kids pick out two flavors of kool-aid. Pour both kool-aid packets in the pitcher and stir! Your children can now name their “custom kool-aid” and have fun drinking it! Who knows, you might even start a trend at home!
8. Fuzzy Floats
This treat is great for a hot day!
You will need: a two-liter of lemon-lime soda, a half-gallon of rainbow sherbet, straws, spoons, and cups.
Cost: under $10.
Place a small scoop of rainbow sherbet in each cup. SLOWLY pour lemon-lime soda into the cups. The soda mixed with the sherbet will foam with “fuzz” that won’t go down, so make sure to pour carefully and slowly! Fill the cup until the “fuzz” pokes over the top of the cup but doesn’t spill over the side.
Stick a straw and spoon in each float and enjoy! This treat is a low-fat, low-sugar way to cool your kids off after a hot summer day in the sun! (Mom and Dad will enjoy these treats as well, so dig in!)
9. Keepsake Handprints
This activity requires a flat place where you can leave the handprints to dry at least overnight.
You will need: flour, water, salt, cooking spray, a mixing bowl, a spoon, measuring cups, toothpicks, old newspaper, and food coloring.
Cost: around $15.
Put 1 cup of flour, ¼ cup salt in mixing bowl, four or five drops of food coloring, and slowly stir in ¾ cup water. Stir in water until the flour mix becomes dough. Knead the dough until it forms a ball in the bowl. Separate small pieces of the dough and roll into balls. Place the newspaper on a flat surface and spray with cooking spray. Press the dough ball onto the newspaper until it becomes flat but still round (or whatever the shape is you desire) making sure the dough is still about ½ to ¼ inch thick. Have your kids press their hand down into the middle of the flattened dough and gently press each finger to make sure all have the same indention. Gently lift hand out of dough, making sure no spots are too thin or stick. Then, use the toothpick to write your child’s name and the date in the dough around the handprint. Allow to dry at least overnight or until the dough is hard enough to lift off the newspaper.
You can also purchase small plate stands at any local craft store for around a dollar each to display these works of art. These make wonderful gifts for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, you name it! Or you can keep them as your own reminder of how small their hands once were!
10. Folded Paint Flowers
This activity is a little messy, so make sure that your kids have on old clothes.
You will need: sturdy paper (like card stock), acrylic paint, old newspaper, and a flat surface.
Cost: around $10.
You can purchase acrylic paint at any local craft store for around $.40 to $.60 each and they come in every color of the rainbow. Line the table or flat surface with old newspaper and have your children put on an old shirt that you don’t mind getting paint on (just in case)! Pre-fold your child’s paper and then flatten back out before putting paint on. Have your child pick out what color they would like their flowers to be. Squirt a small amount of each color on ONE side of the folded paper and then place a drop of white or yellow in the center of each color. Drop a line of green paint down the middle of the fold and make sure to drop some leaves in! Then have your child help you re-fold the paper. Gently and slowly press the paper together to allow the paint to spread to both sides of the paper. Hold gently pressure on the paper for about 10 – 20 seconds. Slowly peel paper apart and see the beautiful flowers you have created! Allow the flowers to dry and then have your kids hang them on their wall or window to enjoy!
You can make variations on any of these ideas to fit you or your children’s tastes. These are all fun, easy things that you can do with your children that they will enjoy as well. (These ideas have been tried and tested on my own children and nieces and nephews and have all been huge hits with little stress on Dad and me!) Happy playing!
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