With summer well underway, your home may already be echoing that dreaded refrain,
“Iiiiii’mmmm booorrrrred!!!!”
It’s inevitable. But really, maybe we should try and give these kids a break. Their solid routine of wake up, dress, eat, brush, bus – it’s all been turned on its head. The school year hustle has been replaced by long days that don’t begin with the early morning buzz of the alarm clock and end in studying for the spelling test. And, it’s REALLY hot out there. Summer 2012 is shaping up to be among the hottest on record.
Just like good ol’ Tommy Edison said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration”. Since we’re already perspiring, it’s time to get inspired. Here are a few ideas to get started with some beat-the-heat projects for the kids that are sure to change their tune.
Water tables are perfect for the very little ones in your life. They keep those chubby hands busy and rapidly developing brains engaged. Happy baby – happy moms and dads that get a few free minutes to sit down and maybe (gasp!) finish a chapter in the book you’ve been trying to read for weeks. Here’s a DIY alternative to buying one.
Block o’ Toys. Here’s a hot tip for your kids’ toy cars that a smarty-pants mom had to have dreamed up: Take a large bowl, fill it with water, drop in about ten or so tiny toy cars (or any other small toy) in the water and freeze. Once frozen, run the bowl under lukewarm water and gently remove the ice in one piece. Hand over the spray bottle, position your kiddo somewhere where a soggy mess is allowed, and watch as they spend oodles of time working hard to liberate their ice-trapped captives!
Water painting is a genius way to let little artists create without ANY mess! Just give them a handful of paintbrushes and a bowl or cup of water and show them how they can paint pictures on the patio, paint their name on your leg, paint circles and squiggles on the stucco! And, like magic, it disappears! Have them describe their picture to you, even if it disappears! Imagination is in full play, here. How about a FAST game of tic-tac-toe? Hurry, before the game evaporates!
Inspiration is just the thing to cure those dog-days boredom blues. Get outside, get creative, beat the heat and have a great summer!