 | Summertime, and the living is............ Let's face it, pretty hectic if you've got children! Are you juggling work and childcare this summer, trying not to spend a fortune on activities? Wondering how to keep your brood and their friends entertained? Here are 10 simple, creative activities to encourage kids away from screens, and get some fresh air. They are designed to mix up art and imaginative play to occupy kids for longer. All of these ideas have been tried and tested on my two children. I'd love to hear your feedback if you give any of them a go. |
1. Build a Native American Teepee Camp
A great group activity.
Download this popular teepee template - both outline and colored versions are available on my website.
They look great topped with feathers and twigs and little lego characters fit well inside :-)
Download this popular teepee template - both outline and colored versions are available on my website.
They look great topped with feathers and twigs and little lego characters fit well inside :-)
2. Festival Time
Dressing up is always fun. A backyard can feel like a festival with a little imagination.
Mine love orchestrating fashion shows at the moment.
Leave an old mirror and some child friendly face paints outside - hilarious outcomes!
Mine love orchestrating fashion shows at the moment.
Leave an old mirror and some child friendly face paints outside - hilarious outcomes!
3. Decorate a Tree
Wrap some string around a nice old tree trunk - peg up your postcard or bunting masterpieces.
You could introduce a theme, such as ''family', 'beach', 'when I grow up'........
Download blank postcard and bunting templates here.
You could introduce a theme, such as ''family', 'beach', 'when I grow up'........
Download blank postcard and bunting templates here.
4. Clay Faces
Our kids love to take a little bag of natural clay to the woods.
Press a ball firmly onto the trunk of a tree and let the kids do the rest.
Get foraging on the forest floor for all manner of materials to make a unique piece of outdoor art.
Press a ball firmly onto the trunk of a tree and let the kids do the rest.
Get foraging on the forest floor for all manner of materials to make a unique piece of outdoor art.
5. Edible Jewelry
A two stage activity - make, then eat !
Small children can thread cheerios, or any cereals or corn snacks with a hole in the middle onto licorice laces if you're happy letting your kids have a sweeter treat.
Older children can thread popcorn onto shirring elastic with a needle.
Small children can thread cheerios, or any cereals or corn snacks with a hole in the middle onto licorice laces if you're happy letting your kids have a sweeter treat.
Older children can thread popcorn onto shirring elastic with a needle.
6. Sand Sculptures
At the beach or in the sandpit - cookie cutters make lovely little sand sculptures
7. Collect and Decorate Pebbles
These pebbles have been 'decopatched' using patterned tissue papers - however, torn magazine cuttings and tissue paper with some pva glue works just as well.
They make great paper weights and little room ornaments.
They make great paper weights and little room ornaments.
8. Simple Mask Making
Brown paper bags make a great base for animal masks - combine collage with finding natural materials such as twigs and feathers.
9. Make a Crazy Bug
Give your kids a zip lock bag and send them out and about foraging for interesting natural materials to make a bug.
We used a popsicle/lollipop stick to form the body of this crazy bug - invent your own species, discuss their habitat, are they dangerous, what do they eat?
We used a popsicle/lollipop stick to form the body of this crazy bug - invent your own species, discuss their habitat, are they dangerous, what do they eat?
10. Beach Combing
Ziplock bags are such a great invention.
We collected all these pieces of colored wood, plastic and string on the beautiful West Coast of Ireland a couple of years back - it was really relaxing making modern art pictures on the ground by arranging the shapes and colors - it's true, one man's junk is another man's treasure.
We collected all these pieces of colored wood, plastic and string on the beautiful West Coast of Ireland a couple of years back - it was really relaxing making modern art pictures on the ground by arranging the shapes and colors - it's true, one man's junk is another man's treasure.
If you enjoy doodling, making, constructing, coloring, click below for more templates and printables
Summer free printables
Free downloads
Travel friendly activities
Which activity are you most likely to try?
I'd love your feedback in the comments below.
If you are a homeschooling parent or teacher looking for fun Back To School Ice Breaker Games and All About me Activities, you might like to browse my creative art lesson / activity packets at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store
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