Sometimes the most exciting times can be staying home. And with the economy in a difficult place, more people are opting for staycations right in their own backyards. Here are a few ideas for family fun and you won’t even have to crank up the car!
1. Patio art – Young children love to paint. A great way to "paint" creatively and safely is on the patio. Give each child a bucket of clean water and a paint brush and let them paint away. Announce a theme and a time limit. Remember the hotter the day the faster the evaporation of the water. So make your assignments simple enough to be completed in just a few seconds.
2. Sprinkler fun – Use the stream of water from the hose to play jump rope. All ages can have fun trying to jump the moving stream of water. If your children get tired of that, play limbo. Create a stream of water for them to limbo under. Let it get lower until only one person is able to get under without getting wet. That person wins.
3. Have an airplane throwing contest. Start with the same piece of paper. You could use a church bulletin, a newspaper sheet, or paper placemat. Once the airplanes are created, designate a starting line and mark the distance for each one.
4. Make one night joke fest night – The only rules are the jokes should be family oriented, everyone has to tell one, and all must laugh at every joke!
5. Neighborhood cook out or sundae party- Invite the neighbors over for hamburgers and hot dogs. Don’t want to fix a meal? Churn some homemade ice cream and ask each neighbor to bring cookies or a topping.
No matter what the activity, enjoy the summer while kids have some free time from school and the days are a little longer!