Summer’s coming, summer’s coming!
Here’s the thing — there are a lot of us. So even a relatively inexpensive trip to…say…a pool or a jumpy-house place adds up pretty quickly. We’ve gotten good at finding super-cheap or free things to do outside during the summer — because while I don’t want to pay for us all to go somewhere, I also don’t want everyone home all day messing with my stuff. Here’s what we do instead:
1. Take a hike. Even a really short one (sometimes we don’t make it past the bathrooms in the parking lot. It’s a season of life, my friends)
2. Take the same hike at different times of day…or different seasons of the year. What changes? What stays the same? How do the flowers and trees look? Do animals tend to be out at one time but not another?
3. Creek-walk! (in the creek, I mean.)
4. Do some face painting.
5. Bring a few “inside toys” to the playground…like small cars or stuffed animals…and let the kids play with them in a different environment.
6. Make your own backyard obstacle course.
8. Do a sound scavenger hunt. Have kids listen for things like birds, cars, and dogs barking and mark them off the list.
9. Pack lunches in small backpacks and let the kids “hike” in the backyard. Let them find their own spot to sit and eat.
10. Move evening storytime to the back deck or front porch.
11. Make sidewalk chalk paint.
12. Round up kitchen items like tea strainers, basters, measuring cups, and different-sized spoons. Fill a small bucket or dishpan with water and let the kids play.
13. Plant something.
15. Blow bubbles using household objects.
16. Make a leaf man. Or a leaf cow. Or a leaf dog. Or…
17. Have a pretend campout. In the backyard. In the middle of the day. Set up a tent, bring out some sleeping bags, read some books.
18. Go on a bike ride.
So many fun ideas! With spring in the air, it’s always good to have new ideas. Pinned!
Great post! We love to garden together as a family and we are ALWAYS going hiking.
These aregreat ideas. I love the leaf man idea! I’d love for you to share this at our Pinning for Play Link Party today!
These aregreat ideas. I love the leaf man idea! I’d love for you to share this at our Pinning for Play Link Party today!
Thanks for sharing your great list at Project Inspire{d} linky party last week!! Hope to see you at this week’s party up now : http://www.settingforfour.com/2013/05/project-inspired-linky-party-no.html Heather
Great post—just pinned;) Thanks for sharing!
Julie
http://www.thechirpingmoms.com
Great list. I like the picnic lunch and hike. I think I might be able to manage that one with my two-year-old twins this spring/summer. I’d love for you to share this at my Spring Bucket List Idea Share. Thanks and Happy Spring!
Such a great reminder of all the fun things that are right around the corner! Thanks for sharing this and encouraging parents to play WITH their kids! 🙂
we do a lot of side walk chalk but when i was little we loved playing in the neighborhood creek. i can’t wait til my girls are a bit older so we can do the same.
Love these idea. Thanks so much for linking this up to the Pinworthy Projects Party! You will be featured tomorrow at Just Us Four!
What a party last week on Friday Flash Blog! Thanks for joining us. I hope you’ve visited some of the other community members and you’re having a splendid week.
Jennifer
thejennyevolution.com
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing on The HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you again tomorrow!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/05/the-homeacre-hop-18.html
Great post! Lots of awesome ideas, and perfect as we start to get in the summer months. Now… if only the summer months in TExas wouldn’t be so dreadfully hot!
Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats
I love the idea of making a backyard scavenger hunt…I’ll have to try that this summer! Great ideas! 🙂
~Sarah
What an awesome post!!! Thanks so much for sharing these ideas! I need to implement them!!! Stopping by from One Artsy Mama’s link party.
These are really great ideas! I love getting outside with my kids and having new things to do with them is always great.
I hope you will consider linking it up to the Pinworthy Projects Party over at my blog, Just Us Four.
Visiting from Let’s Hear it For the Boys. I’d like to invite you to my Friday Flash Blog, where you can share your best blog entry of the week! The party goes on ALL weekend. And who knows, you may just get featured next week.
Jennifer
thejennyevolution.com