‘Tis the season for sunshine and play! But in the middle of July, it’s not uncommon for kids to grow tired of their summertime routine. Ward off boredom and make sure your family survives the rest of the summer with this list of seasonal must-haves – from sports to sand toys, we have you and your kiddos more than covered.
In the Water
Make the pool, lake, or beach fun again by investing in some cool water toys. Oversized floaties are all the rage right now and come in tons of silly and whimsical shapes, like donuts and giant swans. If your local watering hole has sand, sand toys are a great way for younger kids to entertain themselves – building sand castles and playing with shovels never gets old. Flippers and goggles are also great if you have a little marine explorer on your hands. Have a gaggle of growing athletes? Install a volleyball net for the pool (or bring one to set up at the beach) so they can play a tournament with friends. Or, a floating basketball hoop is perfect for practicing free throws while cooling off.
In the Backyard
Backyard games are absolutely a must during the summertime. From badminton to ladder ball to croquet to Wiffle ball, there’s truly a backyard game for every kid (and there are also many books available that contain tons of other yard game ideas and activities). Have a little boy or girl that loves to play with their toys? Get them a kids’ tent and use it as an outdoor playroom. Or, lay down a large picnic blanket with pillows for them to roll around on. Need something that the whole family will enjoy? A slip-n-slide will provide hours of outdoor fun, and a hammock is perfect for lounging on a hot afternoon or for looking up at the stars on a clear summer night. Don’t have a very large backyard? Sidewalk chalk is always a fun option if you’ve got aspiring artists in your family; the pavement is their canvas!
Indoors
If the kids need a day off from being outside, especially if there’s a big heat wave coming, it’s perfectly all right to have an indoor activity day. Are your kids amateur chefs? Invest in an ice cream maker or a popsicle mold so they can create their own homemade summer treats. Movie buffs? Make some popcorn and watch a new flick as a family, or head to the bookstore and let your kids pick out a good book to read at home (their teachers will be thrilled to hear that they read over summer vacation!). A tablet is perfect for when they want some quiet time to play a game, watch their favorite TV show, listen to music, or read an e-book (and they can also bring it with them on summer road trips or airplane rides for easy and portable entertainment).
Don’t let the summer get dull or drag on. With these recreational necessities, your family’s fun will never end!
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