For many, August means back to school. That doesn’t mean there isn’t time to play every day! Play is not only vitally important to our children’s health (and ours!), but play builds lasting bonds between parent and child. Carve a little time out in your day for some fun summer activities with the kids! Here are 31 play ideas and activities to help you make the most of the last full month of summer!
1. Set up an outdoor obstacle course. Simple Kids has lots of fun ideas here.
2. Pick a bouquet of fresh wild flowers and display them in a vase or press them using this tutorial from Red Ted Art.
3. Buy a cheap kiddie pool with a slide and lather up the slide with sensitive skin shaving cream for an extra messy, slippery sensory experience.
4. Splash, pour, drip, and mix in a water table. Don’t have one? Just use a large plastic bin!
5. Create a special bath time for your little one. Here are 8 creative ideas for bath fun.
6. Catch, observe, and release frogs for a fun summer activity that keeps you in touch with nature! Here’s how from WikiHow.
7. Play an old favorite: Duck, Duck, Goose!
8. Try your hand at badminton.
9. Take off your shoes and wade in a creek.
More fun summertime activities on page 2...
10. Try some of these super stellar sensory activities.
21. Take several sheets of construction paper, fold them in half, staple the spine, and write a book with your child.
10. Try some of these super stellar sensory activities.
11. Paint fences, sidewalks, or sheds with sponges, brushes, and plain water!
12. Use a large piece of cardboard as a sled and slide down a grassy hill! No snow needed!
13. Make an insect hotel. Babble Dabble Do shows you how.
14. Create art with nature. Use rocks, leaves, flowers, grass, acorns, etc.
15. Play hide and seek. Try it in the dark with flashlights for a fun summer activity with a spin!
16. Gather some blankets and pillows and head outside late at night to catch the Perseid meteor shower.
17. Play Pooh Sticks over a bridge. Here are the rules of the game.
18. Paint with a fly swatter. It makes some really interesting patterns!
19. Make a pool noodle marble run. Little Bins for Little Hands has the instructions.
20. Have a good ole water hose fight!
More fun summer activities on page 3...
21. Take several sheets of construction paper, fold them in half, staple the spine, and write a book with your child.
22. Play hide and seek.
23. Visit a lake and rent a paddleboat.
24. Play outdoor Twister! Here’s how.
25. Put water balloons in the bath water for a fun summer activity to do indoors.
26. Start reading a new series together, like Goosebumps or The Chronicles of Narnia!
27. Set up targets and get out Nerf weapons!
28. Pretend play dentist’s office.
29. Do yoga together.
30. Stack plastic cups and try to knock them down with little balls.
31. Make edible homemade finger paint. Here are the instructions from Momtastic.