Water Play
Summer means water games galore—and you don’t even have to hit the beach. Water guns, balloon battles, slip-and-slides, target tosses, or even a car wash: kids will absolutely love it!
Painting with Water
Here’s a simple, watery idea! My daughter loved painting on walls and doors with water during summer. All you need is a bucket of water and a brush. Want to step it up? Try spray bottles or clean off chalk designs on the patio afterward.
Tracing Around
Drawing outdoors is even better than inside. Pick from many creative techniques and brighten the day by tracing shapes and textures onto paper. Older kids can take it further—what do they see in the shading they created?
Bubble Painting
Got some bubble wands lying around? If they’re past their prime, give them a new role. Add a bit of paint to the water and let the outdoor painting party begin!
Treasure Hunt
Organize a treasure hunt in the garden! Give the kids a treasure map so they can journey from spot to spot until they reach the prize they’ve earned.
Shadow Drawing
Drawing offers endless possibilities—shadow tracing is a great example. Especially fun on large paper, then color in the shapes with creative techniques. Even older kids will enjoy this!
Sandbox with a Twist
Summer is perfect for bringing some indoor toys into the sandbox and exploring this classic pastime from a fresh, interactive angle. You can even build a river for the dinosaurs!
Hopscotch and Obstacle Course
Draw a fun obstacle course or hopscotch on the patio. Add challenges like target tosses, crawling, giant steps, running, or striking poses along the way.
Snack Time, But Make It a Challenge
Snack time? How about making the kids work for those tasty bites? They’ll love getting messy and grabbing treats hung up or placed on the table—without using their hands!
Giant Jenga
This game is a bit like Jenga: the goal is to keep the balls from falling even as you pull out more and more sticks. Who will be the champion?
