Summer is a great time to relax and have outdoor play time, but it can be hard for kids who thrive on structure. Kids start complaining that they’re bored, and parents may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of constantly entertaining them. Instead of feeling like you need to entertain your kids, you can facilitate fun activities they can do mostly on their own. Here are four fun outdoor activities for kids of all ages they’ll have a blast doing.
Water-Balloon Baseball
Summer is baseball season. Make it even more fun with water balloons.
What you need:
- Plastic baseball bat
- Rapid-fill water balloons
- Something to mark bases if you are playing with a large group
Instructions:
Divide the kids into two teams, and have them play loosely by baseball’s rules. Each team gets a point for every balloon they pop. Switch up the batter after a couple of swings, and have the kids try to tag each other running from base to base.
Fun With Bubbles
Bubbles are fun for all ages, and they can be made even more fun with a few variations.
What you need:
Instructions:
Buy or make your own bubbles, and let your kids go to town with their wands and chase each other with bubble blasters.
[ebatesads id=”in-post”]
Making a Bird Feeder
This is an easy craft that will keep your kids outside for hours bird-watching.
What you need:
- Toilet-paper roll
- Sunflower butter
- Bird seed
- Popsicle sticks
- Twine
Instructions:
- Cover the outside of the toilet-paper roll with sunflower butter.
- Roll the sunflower-butter-covered roll in bird seed until it is completely covered.
- Thread a long piece of twine through the toilet-paper roll and tie a knot at the end.
- Hang it on a tree branch where your kids can see the birds enjoying their treat.
DIY Slip ‘n’ Slide
An activity even adults will want to join in.
What you need:
- Clear plastic sheeting
- Tent pegs to hold down the plastic
- Water from a hose
- Dawn liquid soap
Instructions:
- Spread out the plastic sheet on a grassy lawn, smoothing out any wrinkles with your hands. Make sure there is an incline.
- Anchor the sides of the sheets with tent pegs.
- Add some liquid soap down the center of the slide.
- Spray the slide with water and, if possible, keep the hose running at the top of the slide.
Kids are amazing. We love them.