- Dollar Store Fun! The dollar store has silly string, bubbles, coloring books, glow sticks, and water balloons. Just think of the possibilities.
- If there’s no zoo in your area, how about a trip to the pet store? Kids love animals, domesticated and wild.
- Have a DVD swap with friends. Borrow a movie your kid’s haven’t seen and lend out one you’re tired of. Better yet, invite friends over, pop some popcorn and watch it together.
- Plant a garden. Kids love to play in the dirt and watch things grow. If you don’t have room for a whole garden, try growing just one plant in a container. You can buy a pot or make a decorate one out of a milk carton.
- If there is an attraction near you that you enjoy, consider season passes. This is also a good gift idea.
- Camp out within your house! Make a tent out of sheets or blankets and let the kids sleep in it, or have a family slumber party in the living room.
- Make a summer scrapbook together. Have the kids make a summer journal or let them dictate to you what they would like to write.
- Let the kids e-mail their grandparents. Grandparents will love to hear from them and the kids will love getting e-mail. Everybody wins. Also, this will help them develop typing skills.
- Have a family board game night.
- Take a walk or a hike or a bike ride. You could bring your camera or binoculars and go bird watching.
- Check out a cookbook designed for kids at your local library. Make one of the dishes with your child. If you’d like to take it a step farther, play restaurant at dinnertime with your child acting as the server.
- Play tourist in your own town. Take your camera and visit the sites.
- Volunteer! It’s never too early to teach children to help others.
|