Hot weather is (finally!) here and it’s time to get outside! We’ve rounded up 5 creative ways to stay cool on days when temps are tropical:
Car Wash!
If your child’s Hot Wheels or Little Tikes cars need washing, this will get it done! Hook up the hose, grab some sponges and soap, and let the kids loose to scrub cars both big and small (use a tub to contain smaller toy vehicles).
Water Paint Mural
We have a large acrylic sheet that we’ve attached to our fence (see photo below), but you don’t need that to do this activity! A simple fence or light colored exterior wall will do. You can even hang an old white bedsheet up with clothespins! Fill up water bottles with water and washable paint colors and let kids spray paint the surface. For added textures, pour paint into trays and use paintbrushes and sponges to add to the mural. Stick painter’s tape in different shapes to the material and create stencil outlines before you paint!
Rainbow Soap Foam Bubbles (adapted from Fun At Home With Kids)
Drip, Drip, Drop! (variation of Duck, Duck, Goose)
Steps:
- Just like in Duck, Duck, Goose, have children sit in a circle
- Choose the “Splasher” (aka “It”)
- Give the Splasher a cup of water
- The Splasher will walk around the circle, dripping a little bit of water on all the children’s heads, until they come to the child/player who they want to drop the entire cup on!
- The player who gets the entire cup dropped on them will get up and chase the Splasher, trying to tag them (with a “butterfly”, aka gentle, hand) before the Splasher gets to the player’s old spot.
- If the Splasher gets tagged before getting to the player’s spot, she/he will remain the Splasher for another round until a player who gets “dropped” on isn’t able to catch them.
- Make sure to model the first round for the children so they know what the Splasher should be doing!
Modifications for younger children:
- A teacher/parent can walk around with the Splasher to help do the drips and drops
- Skip the “drips” – the Splasher can hold the cup until she/he picks the player and then dump the entirety of the cup on their head!
Homemade Fruit Popsicles in the Shade!
Wrap up your hot weather fun in the shade with a tasty frozen treat!
What To Do:
- Buy a popsicle mold set – it makes it easier to make them and for the children to hold them! We like these ones.
- Puree some frozen fruit. We think mango chunks, cherries and/or any sort of berry makes the best puree.
- Add juice (orange or apple juice works best!) to the puree.
- To make the popsicles creamy, add yogurt or coconut milk.
- Pour mixture evenly into the popsicle molds.
- Pop into freezer and wait at least 4-6 hours (we suggest making the the evening before so they can set overnight!)
- Pick a spot in the shade, and enjoy!
Do you have any more simple, fun activities to help beat the heat? Share them with us!
