Summatime and the livin’s easy until the kids are looking for things to do 24/7 am I right? Ha I’m half joking but if your kiddos are anything like mine, they’re non-stop. I’ve learned by now that it’s all about keeping them entertained and being ready with lots of activities – some they need help with and some they can do on their own but it keeps the summer interesting. For all you mamas who are coming out of quarantine and straight into summer, I’ve got you covered with a BUNCH of ideas below. I tried to keep different ages in mind too so hopefully if you have littles, you can find something on here too. Don’t be shy – let me know what you girls do to keep the kids busy with a little free time to yourselves!
1.Sidewalk chalk. We’ve been doing lotsss of chalk over here and the kiddos love it and not gonna lie, it’s nice since they don’t need too much help and you can also get things done. We’ve created a few templates with tape but honestly they also just love doing their thing and leaving sweet notes for delivery people, etc!
2. Plant a garden and teach the kiddos about farm-to-table food. Love the idea of letting the kids pick what we grow and giving them responsibility and appreciation for farmers, food, and our planet. This kit is cute and educational.
3. Friendship bracelets which Ava especially loves and it brings me back! Nice safe activity to do inside or out on the patio and you can take the kiddos to drop these off at a friend’s house even on the doorstep!
4. Tie dye! 2020 is definitely all about tie-dye and the kiddos LOVED doing this activity a few weeks ago. Definitely suggest doing it outside since it can get messy. We ordered basic white t-shirts and a kit like this (smaller version here). Could also go old school with paint and stencils!
5. Decorate and fly a kite. This kit would be sweet to give each kid then head to the park, especially for toddlers.
6. Recreate Summer Olympics competitions for the older kids – you could even have it last throughout summer to keep them entertained (and exhausted ha!). Things like swimming, “gymnastics”, baseball, golf (hubby and Luca would be very into this golf set) skateboarding, volleyball and trampoline (which we’re prepared for these days). This ball toss isn’t an Olympic sport but a simple budget-friendly game that my kids like!
7. Water activities. Definitely a must in our household as the kids go crazy for anything to do with water. From a blow-up pool (this one has great reviews) to water ballons to this rainbow sprinkler (super cute!), there are so many options out there. I’ll share some good options. Don’t forget the damn pump lol!:
8. Make slime! My kiddos lalalove slime so this is definitely on our list. The DIY kits make it pretty easy and definitely check out this Unicorn Glitter set for the girls!
9. We did a Backyard Movie Night last year and all though I went all out, you don’t have to do as much to make it fun! We used a projector screen and this mini projector which are great!
10. Smores! If you have a fire pit outside (love this version for small areas or this larger one), this is a summertime tradition that the kids will be into for sure.
11. Mani Pedis. This obviously can happen any time of year but with my kids, definitely an outside activity haha. This Glam Nail Stamper set is adorable and I know Ava would be obsessed!
12. Bring the beach home. If you don’t live by a beach or are uncomfortable going to public places, this could be a fun activity — bringing the sand home into your backyard with this option. Could easily throw it on grass or on a tarp if you don’t want clean up to be easy afterward!
13. Make cotton candy or a sweet tradition. OK I haven’t tried this before so it could be a total hot mess but wanted to include this Cotton Candy Maker because I like the idea! Would for sure need some adult supervision but I’m never mad at a little sweet treat. You could also do something like Sundae’s on Sundays too to keep the summer fun with everything going on with lockdown!
14. Homemade popsicles. I’m always trying to get my kids to eat more fruit and homemade popsicles are an easy way to do that with these Popscicle Molds. This recipe looks delish! Both Ava and Luca like getting involved in the kitchen so I’ll bring this outside so they can help and then enjoy after I freeze! We’re a big Shave Ice family so if we can’t make it to Hawaii this year we might need to grab a Shave Ice Maker too!
15. Backyard or park picnic. If you’re sick of making the 100th lunch of quarantine, bring things outside! My kids love switching it up so I’ll pack one of these bento boxes, a blanket, lots of wet wipes and we’ll head to the park or backyard for a summertime picnic. We like supporting the local deli and scooping up some sandwiches too. Don’t forget the wine, mama!
I’ll include a few other ideas plus those for you mama’s right here! Let me know what else you girls do to keep the kids occupied all summer long!