Kids Activities - Summer Activities For Toddlers to Pre-Teens

Finding enough summer activities for your kids can often be a never ending task. With never ending energy they constantly running to go outside only to come inside a few minutes later. And they do this 45,000 times a day. Somehow they remain bored for about the same amount of times. "Mommmmm, what can I do?" "Mommmmmm, I'm bored." Sounds familiar right? It sounds very familiar - you likely did and said the exact same things as a kid yourself.

So how did you manage to stay busy way back when? Depending on how along ago that was and what neighborhood setting you had, those activities may have been very different. Unless there was a torrential downpour, my mom kicked us out of the house and said to come back when the street lights came on. But those were the days when we could hop on our bikes and ride all over the neighborhood for 12 straight hours. No helmets, no knee-pads, no paranoia. Nowadays, in most places, things are a lot different. Many parents have trouble even letting their kids out of site for more than a few minutes. So what are parents to do? Let's explore a few ideas we can implement when those frequent requests for kids activities come up.

Water Fun

Kids love water. They love to spray water, jump in water, and splash in water. But not everyone has a pool, and even if you do, watching them the whole day is not always possible. I have witnessed my boys playing with a water hose for almost 3 hours, and if you don't prepare for it in advance, they will dig huge mud pits in the middle of your back yard! Why? Because muddy watery holes are great fun, that's why. Consider designating a place in your yard for such an activity. Let them know that THIS is the place where anything goes. (Be sure to contact your electric and gas companies to know where it is OK to dig1!) Dig, make mud, throw mud... make mud pies. The works. Have a water hose or spigot on hand to create that wonderful brown substance, as well for cleaning up your little piggies.

Even older kids like mud, but they may be up for a more intellectual experience. Water gravity games might be the answer. Using buckets, cups, tubes, or any object that they don't have to tear from your house, have them construct water gravity contraptions where water is poured in from the top and flows along to each object in the series. You may be surprised how elaborate your kids can get with these structures.

Rainy Days

So it's raining and your kids are trapped in the house with you. This exponentially increased the amount of times they inform you that they are bored. But if it is just rain and not thunder, lightning, and brimstone, consider actually letting them go OUT in the rain. Did I mention that kids love water... in any form. You could take the bathing suit approach if the weather is nice and warm, or provide them with rain coats and rubber boots. They can pretend they are deep sea fishermen trying to survive the rough ocean. There is something very magical about rain, and your kids will sense it. It will be an experience long remembered.

If going outside is not an option you are left with the TV and video games. But that isn't what you did as a kid was it? No way, we climbed up into the linen closet where the old board games and puzzles were. They smelled like soap. There were pieces missing in every puzzle box. Remember that? But there are unlimited options other than boxed entertainment. This is the perfect opportunity to test their architecture skills by making the infamous "Fort". The fort to end all forts. Indestructible... until the dog plows through it. Another rainy activity I remember was creating these sudo-bowling games. It wasn't exactly bowling, but it was taking a ball and knocking down objects. Have them take turns designing each knock-down challenge. Hide your breakables.

I big thing to remember when coming up with activities for your kids is that usually things that allow them to design, create, and control will be more fun and last a lot longer than pre-made games. At the start set boundaries in terms of what they can't use and where they can't go and then step back and watch it all happen and be amazed. Did I mention to hide your breakables?