After a week of playing outside virtually all day every day, I once again have a tremendous appreciation for the way in which the simplest things in God’s creation can entertain our kids. With this in mind, I have some suggestions for outdoor play during the summer months. I am the queen of “free” or “almost free.” You can combine fun with lots of ‘teachable moments’, even if, like me, you aren’t a teacher. If you don’t know an answer, use it as a chance to research at the library, online, etc. after you play.
Water Play: Who doesn’t enjoy water on a hot day?
Younger child
* Take a shallow plastic container and a wood or plastic table out in the shade. Fill it with water and add many kitchen gadgets. Let your child explore what happens to the water with each. If she puts dirt or plants in, that’s part of the fun—and learning. Try making a simple boat from an egg carton or other container—perhaps adding sails made out of sticks and paper.
* Water the grass and entertain your child simultaneously
* Get out a bucket and an old, paintbrush. Let your child paint with water on the driveway or sidewalk.
Older child
* Build more elaborate boats for your water table and see what floats and what doesn’t and then come inside to research why one material or shape works better than another.
* Take an old shower curtain, drop cloth, or long plastic sheeting material and put it on a sloped part of the yard. Put the hose at the top and anchor the top of the sheeting—and turn the hose on a gentle stream.
* Buy an inexpensive wading pool. Let them play with everything from sand toys, kitchen gadgets, soft balls, Duplos, Fisher Price, or Playmobile toys (and let them make up water adventures—from cooking gourmet meals to deep-sea diving/treasure hunts
* Find a shallow stream or creek, put on your grubbies and your rain boots, and go wading. Take some disinfectant, some gardening or work gloves and a plastic bag in your pocket or in a fanny pack. See if you can find any interesting rocks, fossils, fish, etc. and let your child pick out a favorite item (not a fish!) to take home. If you see trash along the way, pick it up with your gloves and use it as a chance to talk about the importance of caring for the environment.
Chalk anyone?
Younger child
* Get some chubby chalk and let your little artist go to town. Let her watch what happens to the colors on the cement when they get wet.
Older child
* Have your child help you to build a city or countryside with chalk—including buildings, street signs/traffic lights, speed markers, railroad crossings, bridges and so on. Let your child walk or ride through the town—being sure to follow the signals. Assign someone to be the police officer. Too many tickets and you land in jail! This is a good way to teach traffic safety, too: bicycle hand signals, which side of the street you should walk/ride on, how to cross the street and so on. A good rain or hosing off will wash it all away so you can start fresh another day.
Nature explorer
Younger child
* Point out different things you see in the sky or in your yard: clouds, the sun, trees, grass, plants, flowers, birds, bugs, etc. Ask your child questions about what he sees (color, shape, size) and what he likes or doesn’t like about each thing. This is also a good chance to talk about how God made each of these things and how it shows us His love.
Older child
* Get some basic books on trees, birds, bugs, flowers, etc.—whatever is of interest to your child. Build a simple birdhouse (you can buy kits inexpensively at craft stores) and let your child decorate it or put out a birdfeeder. Watch the creatures that come into your yard and teach your child (and perhaps yourself too) to recognize different varieties of wildlife.
* Buy a bug vacuum, butterfly net, or use a jar with holes in the lid to capture some little critters to observe, then let them go. Or, just enjoy some time watching the ants or other ‘creepy crawlies’ on your sidewalk and see what they do when you place obstacles or food in front of them. You’d be amazed at how interesting this is for your 4- or 5-year-old—and you might be surprised that you, too, are interested!
* Get out your paper, glue, scissors, crayons, markers, etc. and let your child pick up sticks, leaves, and so on from the yard and make nature collages. If you can, make them outside on a patio, picnic table, etc. to reduce mess and help your child to enjoy the ‘natural’ part of the experience. If you like, talk to your child about what the items are and anything you know about the item (such as nuts being the ‘seed’ that makes new trees and how that happens) as your child makes his artful creation.
* Buy a kite from Dollar Tree and go to a park. This is a definitely a joint activity (they’ll need help) and you can use it as an opportunity to talk about wind, air currents, and so on.
Most importantly, have fun with your child!
Water Play: Who doesn’t enjoy water on a hot day?
Younger child
* Take a shallow plastic container and a wood or plastic table out in the shade. Fill it with water and add many kitchen gadgets. Let your child explore what happens to the water with each. If she puts dirt or plants in, that’s part of the fun—and learning. Try making a simple boat from an egg carton or other container—perhaps adding sails made out of sticks and paper.
* Water the grass and entertain your child simultaneously
* Get out a bucket and an old, paintbrush. Let your child paint with water on the driveway or sidewalk.
Older child
* Build more elaborate boats for your water table and see what floats and what doesn’t and then come inside to research why one material or shape works better than another.
* Take an old shower curtain, drop cloth, or long plastic sheeting material and put it on a sloped part of the yard. Put the hose at the top and anchor the top of the sheeting—and turn the hose on a gentle stream.
* Buy an inexpensive wading pool. Let them play with everything from sand toys, kitchen gadgets, soft balls, Duplos, Fisher Price, or Playmobile toys (and let them make up water adventures—from cooking gourmet meals to deep-sea diving/treasure hunts
* Find a shallow stream or creek, put on your grubbies and your rain boots, and go wading. Take some disinfectant, some gardening or work gloves and a plastic bag in your pocket or in a fanny pack. See if you can find any interesting rocks, fossils, fish, etc. and let your child pick out a favorite item (not a fish!) to take home. If you see trash along the way, pick it up with your gloves and use it as a chance to talk about the importance of caring for the environment.
Chalk anyone?
Younger child
* Get some chubby chalk and let your little artist go to town. Let her watch what happens to the colors on the cement when they get wet.
Older child
* Have your child help you to build a city or countryside with chalk—including buildings, street signs/traffic lights, speed markers, railroad crossings, bridges and so on. Let your child walk or ride through the town—being sure to follow the signals. Assign someone to be the police officer. Too many tickets and you land in jail! This is a good way to teach traffic safety, too: bicycle hand signals, which side of the street you should walk/ride on, how to cross the street and so on. A good rain or hosing off will wash it all away so you can start fresh another day.
Nature explorer
Younger child
* Point out different things you see in the sky or in your yard: clouds, the sun, trees, grass, plants, flowers, birds, bugs, etc. Ask your child questions about what he sees (color, shape, size) and what he likes or doesn’t like about each thing. This is also a good chance to talk about how God made each of these things and how it shows us His love.
Older child
* Get some basic books on trees, birds, bugs, flowers, etc.—whatever is of interest to your child. Build a simple birdhouse (you can buy kits inexpensively at craft stores) and let your child decorate it or put out a birdfeeder. Watch the creatures that come into your yard and teach your child (and perhaps yourself too) to recognize different varieties of wildlife.
* Buy a bug vacuum, butterfly net, or use a jar with holes in the lid to capture some little critters to observe, then let them go. Or, just enjoy some time watching the ants or other ‘creepy crawlies’ on your sidewalk and see what they do when you place obstacles or food in front of them. You’d be amazed at how interesting this is for your 4- or 5-year-old—and you might be surprised that you, too, are interested!
* Get out your paper, glue, scissors, crayons, markers, etc. and let your child pick up sticks, leaves, and so on from the yard and make nature collages. If you can, make them outside on a patio, picnic table, etc. to reduce mess and help your child to enjoy the ‘natural’ part of the experience. If you like, talk to your child about what the items are and anything you know about the item (such as nuts being the ‘seed’ that makes new trees and how that happens) as your child makes his artful creation.
* Buy a kite from Dollar Tree and go to a park. This is a definitely a joint activity (they’ll need help) and you can use it as an opportunity to talk about wind, air currents, and so on.
Most importantly, have fun with your child!
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