As we reach the middle of summer vacation, I wanted to give you some different ideas to add fun and laughter to your days. Here are some water games, yummy summer treats, scavenger hunts and nature activities to enjoy as a family:
Water games- In the heat, refreshing water games always go over well.
Sponge Toss-Fill a bucket with water and put a big sponge in there. At first, the players stand very close together and toss the sponge to each other. After each toss, the players take a step back. The sponge should be rewet often.
Add the sprinkler to a game like tag, running bases, or Frisbee.
Ice Cube Rescue-Fill up the kiddie pool and dump in the ice from several trays. It is best if the cubes are on the big side. Two people sit around the side of the pool and try to remove the ice cubes with their feet! If there are more than two people, you can make this a relay.
Hose limbo-Get out the fun music and your hose. Turn on the water and make a stream with your thumb. Limbo under the stream. Lower it after every round.
Dunk for apples
Tasty Treats-It is fun to make summertime snacks with the kids. Try making an ice cream pie. Put about 27 of your favorite chocolate sandwich cookies and break them up in the blender. Pat them into greased pie plate. Scoop softened ice cream onto the pie crust. Pour chocolate syrup on top and add some extra cookie crumbs. Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Yum!
Other treats might be popsicles, yogurt pops, smoothies, or different varieties of fruit punch.
Scavenger Hunts-This is a great activity because it can take as much preparation or as little as you want it to. Scavenger Hunts that can happen anywhere include:
- Colors of the Rainbow: Write down the colors of the rainbow. Have the kids find one item that is each color.
- Letters of the alphabet: 26 letters can be long, so write out your last name or a phrase like “Scavenger Hunt” and have the kids look for items that begin with each letter in the name or phrase.
- One to Ten: List the numbers one to ten on a page. The kids need to find ten of one object (like 10 rocks), nine of something else (9 blades of grass)…etc.
Nature Fun-Go to a local forest, forest preserve, or park.
- Have a picnic.
- Nature Art-Andy Goldsworthy is an artist who makes nature art. Watch a YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HnrKiHqNvA with your kids about a group of kids inspired by him and then go make your own nature art.
- Rubbings-Bring paper and some colored pencils and crayons. Put the paper against tree bark, the back of leaves or any thing with texture and rub the crayon over the paper.
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