School is out for the summer! While many people have nostalgia for the lazy days of summer, parents know that there is nothing sentimental about boredom. Keeping your children active and engaged does not have to be expensive. Here are 7 of our favorite low cost summer activities for kids.
- Camping in the Backyard-Break out the tents, with no need to start up the car. Kids will have fun sleeping outdoors and playing with flashlights without the long road trip. If you have a fire pit or BBQ, don’t forget to make s’mores! This is also a great opportunity to clean and hose down tents that might have been put away dirty.
- Games with Chalk- Go beyond hopscotch! From tracing shadows to tick tack toe, bean bag tosses and DIY twister, there are dozens of fun activities you can do with sidewalk chalk.
- Cooking Projects- You need to make dinner anyway. Summer is the perfect time to teach the kids how to cook simple meals. Even little ones under five can spread breadcrumbs on casserole or top a pizza. While letting kids measure might get a bit messy, it is a hands on way to learn fractions. Older children can begin to learn how to cut safely. A great way to save money is to bake your own bread. Kids will love watching it rise.
- Papier-Mâché - Papier-mâché is an oldie, but a goodie. How to: Combine 1 part flour to 5 parts water and 2 tablespoons of salt, boil about 3 minutes, and let cool. Cut or tear newspaper into roughly one-inch strips. Lightly dip newspaper strips into the glue and layer on balloons. Allow at least one day to thoroughly dry before painting. Combine different shaped balloons to make animals like bears, rabbits, and roosters. You can also use brown paper bags or tissue paper to give your papier-mâché a different look. Take this activity outside to minimize messes. Papier-mâche bunny CC image courtesy of Charclam on Flickr.
- Broken Crayon Art- Crayons are bound to break, why not make art? Cut off the paper wrappers and lay your chosen crayons on a canvas, piece of cardboard, or stiff piece of paper. If you live somewhere hot, simply lay your art out in the sun and let the crayons melt. If you live somewhere cooler, use a hair dryer to melt the crayons.
- Dress Up- Break out the hats and scarves for the perennially popular game of dress up. Don’t forget to take pictures of your kid’s best looks; those pictures will be pure gold at graduation, engagement, and wedding parties! Bonus: use this as an opportunity to sort through your old clothes for donation.
- Gardening- How can you gets your kids to help out and get them interested in vegetables at the same time? Gardening! Your kids will love planting their seeds, weeding, watching them grow, and finally eating the homegrown vegetables. Gardening is play with a purpose.
While summer camps and organized sports are great, there is a lot of fun to be had around the home. Take turns organizing simple home DIY activities with other parents in the neighborhood. Need pet or home cleaning tips? See theCOIT Blog.
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