51 Fabulous Ideas for Fun and (Slightly Funned-Out) Moms!<\/p>\n
Yes, momma, it\u2019s summer. Still. That time of year when you suddenly realize: 1) in your more-relaxed summer schedule, you haven\u2019t done any of the fun summer activities you wanted to (except for the pajama day and\/or 2), You have done nearly every fun summer activity you can think of, and you still have a month until you settle back into a fall schedule.<\/p>\n
In either case, I am here to help. Because I love you, I have spent many, many, many hours poring through Pinterest for you (I have a totally numb bottom and bleary eyes to prove it), and I have culled out some interesting things to do with your kidlet(s) as summer starts to hit its downhill side. (I\u2019m not calling it a bucket list because, let\u2019s be honest, do you actually want to explain that term to your child?)<\/p>\n
Please note: these 51 fabulous ideas are safe for the Pinterestly-challenged mom. Because I am one of the challenged ones. Most of the things are free (yay!) or seriously cheap (also yay!) and don\u2019t require weird things you have never heard of and don\u2019t have. Also, all the recipes, tips, tricks, printables or whatever you need for the activities are located on a Pinterest board<\/a>\u00a0I made just for you!I have included reading as an activity with every age group. Since you likely have read the same three favorite books to your child 100 times today, I have also pinned some book lists on the board. Check for age-specific book lists on Goodreads<\/a>\u00a0as well. I love using my library hold system to find specific books\u2014a couple clicks during naptime and the nice librarians will find the books for me and hold them for a few days for me to pick up. I know, right?<\/i> Check your local library to see if they have this service. It\u2019s usually free.<\/p>\n Okay, mommas, let\u2019s do this thing.<\/p>\n 1) colored ice cubes<\/a> in a ziplock bag (or float in water table or bath)<\/p>\n 2) colored spaghetti<\/a><\/p>\n 3) air fort tunnel<\/a><\/p>\n 4) DIY ball pit <\/a><\/p>\n 5) paint in a box<\/a><\/p>\n 6) sensory bag<\/a><\/p>\n 7) sticky star post-its<\/a> (simple yet amazing)<\/p>\n 8) pillow\/pool crawl<\/a> (pillow obstacle course, in a blowup pool!)<\/p>\n 9) driving up the wall<\/a> (not driving YOU up the wall\u2026)<\/p>\n 10) read<\/a>! Book ideas for your one year old<\/p>\n 1) pom poms in tubes<\/a><\/p>\n 2) build a fort<\/a> under the dining room table (add a flashlight for extra fun!)<\/p>\n 3) chalk art in a box<\/a> (to the mom who thought of the box-thank you!)<\/p>\n 4) build a racetrack\/town for $1<\/a><\/p>\n 5) connect 4 game<\/a> (who knew?)<\/p>\n 6) i-spy bottle<\/a> (clever! good for travel and quiet time, too)<\/p>\n 7) spin art<\/a> (use paper or rocks!)<\/p>\n 8) silky soft playdough<\/a><\/p>\n 9) action words<\/a><\/p>\n 10) read<\/a> (Also, don\u2019t forget those helpful librarians and the hold\/reserve system.)<\/p>\n 1) cut the grass<\/a><\/p>\n 2) playdough<\/a> and straw letters<\/p>\n 3) fizzy painting<\/a><\/p>\n 4) set up the camping tent<\/a> in the backyard or living room\u2014insta playroom!<\/p>\n 5) bubble snakes<\/a> (cool, not scary)<\/p>\n 6) easy toddler car wash<\/a>\/doll wash (genius, and good training for dishes in a few years)<\/p>\n 7) games three year-olds play<\/a><\/p>\n 8) cut and paste<\/a> (use some of the tissue paper you are saving!)<\/p>\n 9) color and shape jump<\/a><\/p>\n 10) read!<\/a><\/p>\n 1) water balloon target<\/a> (and a tip<\/a> on how to have kids help fill them!)<\/p>\n 2) rock painting<\/a> (a low-ish mess method!)<\/p>\n 3) board games for 4-5 year olds<\/a><\/p>\n 4) marshmallow structures<\/a> (try gumdrops, too)<\/p>\n 5) color scavenger hunt<\/a> and outdoor scavenger hunts of all kinds<\/p>\n 6) easy melted crayon art<\/a> (and lunch, too!)<\/p>\n 7) drive-in movie theater<\/a> (a little set-up but super fun)<\/p>\n 8) flashlight games<\/a> (is there anything more fun than a flashlight?)<\/p>\n 9) laser obstacle course<\/a> (try crepe paper streamers)<\/p>\n 10) read<\/a>! (I pinned some read-aloud lists for you, too. Also, there\u2019s that thing where the librarians find the books FOR you\u2026)<\/p>\n Note: any family activity that ends at the local ice cream shop is a good activity. Trust me \u2014 just ask your kids.<\/p>\n 1) search Pinterest for \u2018family fun + your city\u2019. Or search \u2018staycation\u2019 ideas for your city.<\/p>\n 2) letter boxing or geocaching<\/a><\/p>\n 3) look through scrapbooks together, watch video clips or play a slideshow of the photos from your phone.<\/p>\n 4) board game<\/a> or puzzle night<\/a>! Check the family puzzles with multi-sized puzzle pieces (big pieces for the kids to do, smaller for the grownups, good for ages 3+)<\/p>\n 5) stargaze<\/a> in your own backyard, easy and magical<\/p>\n 6) family picnic<\/a> and pool night (check the Board for simple picnic food ideas)<\/p>\n 7) family dance party!<\/a> Take turns picking the song. (I have forbidden that one about letting it go #icanttakeitanymore\u2026)<\/p>\nAge 1<\/h2>\n
Age 2<\/h2>\n
Age 3<\/h2>\n
Age 4-5<\/h2>\n
Family fun<\/h2>\n