Late summer brings higher temperatures with high humidity. It is also a time when children may be growing a little bored. They've been to the beach, the pool, the park, and the sandbox. They've had their swimming lessons, their summer camps, and their family vacation. Before any of you lose your cool, try a few of these refreshing activities!
Snow Day
What better way to feel cool, than to pretend it's the middle of winter! Pick your favorite snowy movie. Wear a scarf and crank up the air conditioner. Fix S'mores (in the microwave, no fires today, please!) and drink hot cocoa. Pretend you're snowed in, and can't go to work or school. Wear mittens as you watch Snow Dogs, or Snow Day, or even Frosty, The Snowman!
Polar Bears and Penguins
Gather some small plastic polar bears and penguins for this preschool sensory activity. Freeze a variety of plastic containers of water. Fill the sensory pool with water and ice, and let your child play with these arctic and antarctic creatures. You can add some blue food coloring to the water as it freezes, to increase the sensory experience. Get out some mittens so your child can quickly warm up his fingers and play some more. Remember: always supervise young children around water. A small child can drown in one inch of water.
More At the Beach
It is always cooler at the beach than a swimming pool. There are winds off the lake, and there is less pavement to soak up the sun's rays. If you've been to the beach a lot, you may want to spring for some new sand toys, or a few inflatable water toys. Bring some large shovels, and help your child build a super-large sand sculpture! Bring a large umbrella for a shade break, to help prevent sun burns. Re-apply sun screen periodically. Bring plenty of fresh water to drink - sun, wind and sand tends to make one very thirsty. Don't pack sandwiches, unless you like to eat them with sand. Instead, try bringing individually wrapped foods, like string cheese, or cheese and cracker snacks. Don't forget sun glasses!
Make Snow Cones
Small machines are readily available to make your own snow cones. You can freeze blocks of ice and shave them, adding purchased syrups or make your own. Try condensed frozen fruit juices in place of the sugared syrups. Let your child help you make them - but be careful around the machine. It is not a toy and has sharp parts. Your child can pour on the syrup, add the straw, and help drink it up!
Make Cooling Packs
Gather some mis-matched socks and re-purpose them. Fill them with uncooked white rice, and tie or sew them shut. Store them in the freezer overnight. Then, apply them to the back or your neck or wrists to help cool you down in a hurry. Rice holds the cold, but won't freezer-burn your skin. When the sock no longer feels cold, you can either put it back in the freezer, or play catch with them. They can be used like bean bags toys. These cool packs are also great for boo-boos and owies.
Chill the Air
This is especially great if you don't have air conditioning. Freeze a block of ice, then set it in front of a fan. As the fan blows over the ice, the air is cooled. Sit near the fan on the floor and work on puzzles together, or play a board game.
Experiment With Home-Made Popsicles
Pureed fruits make wonderful popsicles that are also nutritious. This is a great way to use up fresh fruit that's on the verge of going bad. Cut out any soft spots, then pop in a blender with just enough apple juice for the blender to function. You'll need more juice for dryer fruits, less for wet ones. You won't need any apple juice if pureeing watermelon! Try single fruits, or blend several together. How about strawberry-banana pops? Or pineapple-mango?
Outdoor Obstacle Course
You and your child can create an outdoor obstacle course, using the toys and equipment you have available. You might have to climb up the ladder and slide down the slide, then hop into a hula hoop, crawl through a fabric tunnel, turn a summersault, ride a tricycle ten feet, throw a ball, and run through the sprinkler. Whatever steps you add, be sure to include some sort of water. The child will feel cooler when wet, and he'll burn off a little energy as well.
Backyard Water Park
Get together with a few friends, and see what water toys you can all pool together. Set them all up in one back yard! Maybe you'll have a water slide, an inflatable splash pool, and hard plastic splash pool, a funny shaped sprinkler toy, some water guns and some pool toys. Get all the kids together, and let them have a wonderful, wild, wacky wet Wednesday. If you have several splash pools, you might put dish soap and water in one, ice and water in another, and water and pool toys in the third. Be sure to establish a "safe" area, where kids and hide when they don't want to be targeted, like a picnic table or tent. All the moms should stick around and help supervise.
Go Someplace Air Conditioned
Find out what museums or indoor fun parks are in your area. Check on their entrance fees, or if they have any coupons or free days. Some Children's Museums are free, or very inexpensive. While summer is a great time to be outside, sometimes you just need a break! Children's museums have become more popular in recent years, and have many wonderful hands-on activities. By supporting them, you'll ensure that they are around for the next generation of young minds.
Lorelei Sieja - "Coming Home, Staying Home", The Teaching Home magazine "On Death and Dishes","Buzzard Morning", Our Family Magazine "The MacGyver ...
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