Wonderful Water
With summer in full swing, it's the perfect time of year to try out creative activities that will keep your kids cool and entertained when playing outside in the hot summer heat. Below are some of my favorite outdoor summer activities that just use water and a few other simple supplies. So get those little ones dressed in their swimsuits, loaded up with sunscreen and outside creating!
Sheet Painting
- Old bedding sheet (lighter colors are better)
- Clothespins
- Washable paint
- Hose
- Paintbrushes of various sizes
- Cups or bowls for paint
This project basically works like a giant dry erase board and is sure to supply hours of fun! Grab an old sheet and drape it over an object such as a fence, bush or tree branch (make sure your hose can reach to this area). Use clothespins to hold the sheet down and then thoroughly wet the sheet with the hose. Next, fill the cups or bowls with a mixture of paint and water. I tend to do 1-part paint to 4-parts water. Now grab those brushes and start painting!
Sidewalk, Deck, or Patio “Painting”
- Containers of water
- Paintbrushes of various sizes
Once upon a time, I taught a classroom of 14 very active toddlers and—for anyone who has a toddler knows all too well—their attention span is usually quite short. On one particularly antsy day, I took all 14 kiddies outside and handed each of them a paint brush and cup of water and instructed them to “paint” the deck until the whole thing was wet. To my complete surprise, they went to work and never stopped working. The sun kept drying what they had “painted," so it made the project never ending, yet this did not upset the little ones at all. The best part? My deck had never been so clean!
Water Silhouettes
- Hose
- Flat wall, driveway or sidewalk
This one is great fun on a hot day—especially for older kiddos. Have your kids spread out flat on the ground or up against a wall outside. They will need to really press themselves down and think about the shapes of their arms and legs on the wall or ground. The more interesting the pose, the better the results. Once they are happy with their position, spray them with the hose! Yup, you read correctly. Spray them down making sure they keep their pose and stay nice and flat.
