Activities children wish to engage in during the upcoming summer months
Summer days can be challenging for keeping kids entertained indoors, but fear not! A blog post titled "19 Things to do inside with kids" offers a wealth of ideas to ensure that your little ones stay engaged, active, and learning throughout the season.
One of the most popular toys for children during the summer months is water beads, which are perfect for outdoor play on the front porch to prevent messes. For those rainy days, an indoor racquet game can provide hours of fun, whether played indoors or outdoors. The basketball used with the hoop is soft and bouncy, making it safe for indoor play, though it's worth noting that it has been known to accidentally hit the TV or break a small potted plant.
LEGO sets are always a hit with kids, and the blog post suggests a classic box for building creatures and cars from imagination, as well as two LEGO books: Chain Reactions, which offers fun projects for children, and a book featuring simple, cute, and easy-to-build animals.
Magic watercolor is another popular painting activity for children. This game involves using a white crayon to draw a surprise on paper, which the child then paints over to reveal. For a more structured art project, consider setting up a station with paints, crayons, stickers, and construction paper for creative projects.
Science experiments are a great way to keep children curious and engaged. Simple experiments, such as volcano making or balloon rockets, can provide hours of fun and learning. For a calmer sensory experience, consider making sensory bottles filled with water, sparkles, craft sand, food coloring, and baby oil.
Arts and crafts aren't the only creative outlet for kids. Cooking activities can also be a fun and educational way to teach them life skills and encourage creativity. Engage your children in preparing snacks or meals, or try a Play-Doh kitchen set, which is an alternative to using kitchen tools for Play-Doh play.
Indoor camping is another fantastic way to simulate a camping experience. Set up a tent indoors with pretend campfires and storytelling for a memorable family activity.
Board games and puzzles are a staple of family game nights or cooperative play among siblings. The blog post recommends five board games suitable for children: Trouble, Jenga, Connect Four, Candy Land, and Count Your Chickens. For a more educational experience, consider an educational human anatomy puzzle or a 2-foot tall reversible puzzle featuring a skeleton on one side and organs on the other.
Magna Tiles have been popular during quarantine for building castles and hiding objects. Brain Flakes, interlocking plastic disks, are another great tool for creating 3D objects.
For those who enjoy geography-related activities, the Soar system World Alphabet puzzle is a fun and educational option.
Lastly, don't forget about dress-up clothes! A ninja costume or princess dress can provide hours of imaginative play. Activity books for kids, such as the Magic Tree House series, are also popular for older children.
Piggy Paint, a non-toxic, water-based nail paint, is a safe and fun option for children who enjoy painting their nails.
These activities provide a mix of educational, creative, and physical play options to keep kids entertained indoors during hot summer days. So, whether you're looking for a new toy or a fun indoor activity, this list has got you covered!
[1] Source: "19 Things to do inside with kids" blog post [2] Another source: various online resources for indoor activities and toys for children [4] Additional information from the broader context of the blog post
- A craft book called "Chain Reactions" is recommended for children, offering fun LEGO projects.
- The Magic watercolor game is a popular choice for painting activities, where kids draw hidden images that are revealed when painted over.
- For a educational and engaging activity, consider science experiments like making volcanoes or creating sensory bottles filled with various materials.
- Cooking activities can be a fun way to teach kids life skills and creativity, such as preparing snacks or using Play-Doh kitchen sets.
- The Soar system World Alphabet puzzle is an enjoyable geography-related activity for children, promoting learning through play.
