Summer Fun Ideas for kids- Backyard Play

Kid's Activities for Summer Vacation
If you have a garden hose, lawn chair, note pad or coin, you're in luck. Simple household items can keep your kids occupied during the dog days
of summer! Start with a few of these suggestions and then take a look at
summer water games, relay races or art activities.

Coin Adventure
Turn an ordinary neighborhood walk into an extraordinary adventure.
Pick a time when you have nice weather and a bit of time to spend.
As you and your child step out the front door, flip a coin.
If its tails turn left. If its heads turn right. Continue this at every corner. You never know where you'll end up! This is a great opportunity to giggle with your kids and enjoy some chatting.

Obstacle Course
A terrific form of exercise and play!
Super for summer parties and barbeques.

These obstacles are sure to delight you kids.
-Walking or hopping along a winding a garden hose.
-Crawling under lawn chairs.
-Balancing along a string.
-Walking with a ball between your knees.
-Add an oscillating sprinkler to any of the above!
Obstacle builders could be lawn furniture, a hose, string or rope, sprinkler, balls, water balloons, jump rope
Add movements like jumping, rolling etc. What fun!

Be Prepared
Fill a large laundry basket with a good playground ball, a jump rope, and roller skates, hula hoop and some side walk chalk. They'll be ready in a pinch!

Wacky Kids Croquet or Lawn Bowling

Leave the proper croquet games to your older relatives...
this game will keep your kids giggling all summer! instructions >>

Slide Test Drive
This simple activity keeps my son busy for
quite awhile and his friends like it too!
If you have a swing set with a slide in your back yard.
Place a bucket or dish pan at the bottom of the slide.
Have your child place a toy car at the top of the slide and see if it will roll into the bucket.
Ask him /her which cars were successful, which one failed and why they think that was the case.

Scavenger Hunt
My favorite summer camp activity was a good scavenger hunt. Have a hunt with your kids or help plan one for the neighborhood gang.

You'll Need:
A list of common house hold objects that you know you have. Each team or child will receive a list and a bag for the items (make the lists before gathering the kids).
The lists can contain anything:
A dandelion, rock, Pill bug, worm, leaf, ball, roller blade...
Pre readers will need pictures. The object of the game is
to be the first team to find and retrieve all of the objects on the list. Play inside or outdoors.

Refrigerator Box House
No tree for a tree house?
Just go to your local appliance center and ask if they can spare a LARGE box. Let your children design there "fort" and you can cut the doors & windows with a utility knife.
Paint and decorate the outside using poster paints and sponges or brushes. Fabric scraps and a stapler can be used for curtains. If kept under cover this retreat will last all summer. Don't for get the "keep out" sign.

Tent Time
Kids love to play in their own tent space. You can do it without the hassle of pitching a tent.
Use a plastic tarp over the clothesline with stakes at the corners. Cover the floor with a blanket or sheet.
Provide a picnic lunch, board games and other activities for the little campers. Using this instead of a real tent will prevent damaging the lawn. Kids can use it all summer long for a relief from the sun.