Toddlers are pretty much into everything, which can make it hard to keep them entertained with one task or another. The summer months can be especially difficult, particularly if you have other children to keep busy. Usually, parents look for pricey toys and expensive activities to keep kids occupied. This can be a drain on your budget though. Luckily, summer does open up a lot of options that will not only allow your curious toddler to have fun, but will also help with the learning process. These ten, fun ideas won’t just leave your child happy, but will also help you entertain for a lot less. This will help keep you on budget without forcing you to deal with a screaming child.
1. Sand Play
Sand is a big part of summer fun, whether you live at the beach or not. This summer, you may want to bring some sand into your own home, so your toddlers can explore and learn all about it. There’s a lot of ways to have fun with sand. For starters, you can inexpensively set up a sand box in the back yard. This will allow kids of all ages to play, build and dig. You might want to consider adding a cover to the box though, as sand can often get extremely hot when left out in the sun. Another option is to bring in a sand table for your child. You can make these using cheap supplies like toilet paper rolls, spoons and more. Try to make areas where your child can pour, build and even get sand wet. There’s a lot of crafts that work with sand too, which can help with motor skills as your child grows. Apart from that, you might want to consider making kinetic sand, which is a popular science experience. This sand is also a lot easier to clean up!
2. Bath Time Swim Time
Swimming outdoors is a staple for the summer time, but you can also take your child’s favorite activity and bring it indoors. All you have to do is run some cool or lukewarm bath water and have your child suit up in their favorite bathing suit. Your child can enjoy common pool toys, or simply play with their everyday bath toys. If you really want to spice things up then you can make DIY bath paint to inspire your little artist. The best thing about swimming indoors is you can ditch the sunscreen, which isn’t always best for the skin. You also won’t have to worry about filling a larger pool up outside or paying a fee to get into a pool.
3. Sidewalk Chalk
Outdoor fun is always great for the kids, so you might want to consider sidewalk chalk. This will help children work on their motor functions, which is always a win at that age. Plus, the color of the chalk can help children learn colors. Sidewalk chalk is pretty cheap to buy, but you can even make it yourself if you’re looking to save even more money. Of course, you should always stick to shaded areas for your kids to play, but if you want to keep this an indoor activity that works too. Chalkboard paint isn’t expensive and there are lots of items you can use it on to keep your child happy.
4. Gardening
There’s no doubt about it, most children love to dig in the dirt. So, you might want to utilize this love to show them a skill they can use throughout their lifetime. Although toddlers can’t handle many gardening tasks, they can drop seeds in holes and add a little water to the mixture. You can also have them grow a bean sprout out of a ziplock bag to show them just how seeds become plants. If you don’t have a place for your child to dig then consider other tasks. You can plant some items indoors in small pots, which will help children learn how to care for a plant by watering and setting it in the sun each day. If you want to go further than plants then you may want to consider making a simple bird feeder. You can easily do this with a toilet roll by adding peanut butter to the sides and rolling it in seeds. This can be hung anywhere that suits your toddler’s fancy.
5. DIY Sprinklers
On a hot day, nothing is more fun than running through some sprinklers. This can be a great idea for toddlers as well as the whole family. Sprinklers are pretty inexpensive, but you might want to consider a few alternatives to keep your kids safer. One option is a pool noodle. All you need to do is cut holes in a noodle and attach it to the hose. This will allow for a large range for your sprinkler and is soft to step on in case your toddler doesn’t jump all of the way over. Another option is a simple water bottle. This is a great way to upcycle garbage and works when you’re in a pinch for a sprinkler. You can even design games around the sprinkler to make things even more exciting.
6. Sea Shell Art
One of the best symbols of summer is the sea shell, which makes it a great item to share with your toddler this summer. If you live by the beach then you might want to take a trip to find some sea shells with your family. This will allow everyone to pick out their favorite shells. You can do all sorts of things with the shells when you take them home. For instance, you can use them to make prints on paper. You can also paint the shells with design or turn them into shell pets. There’s a ton of ideas online, so check for some tutorials if you run out of ideas. Of course, you will want to check out your toddler’s sea shells to ensure none can fit in the mouth to help avoid emergencies.
7. Library Fun
Every summer, most libraries put on a reading program designed for children of all ages. They even involve toddlers in the reading program. Usually, this part of the program requires you to read to your child so they can earn prizes and discover a love for books. The library also offers several arts and crafts programs that are exciting for the little ones. Most will even host story time or movies to help keep the kids happy all summer long. Of course, you don’t just have to rely on the library’s program to keep your child entertained. You may want to spend some time reading to your toddler at the library to teach that it is a helpful place to learn.
8. Bubbles
Most kids really love to play with bubbles, which might make this another great option for your child’s play time. The best thing about bubbles is you can make them at home with items that cost next to nothing. So, you will always have something on hand for your children to play with when they’re bored. Bubbles are great for children to chase too, which will help them run out some of their excess energy. If you want to make the activity educational then you can have children count the bubbles. Even working on teaching your toddler how to blow bubbles can be educational for their growing mind. It may even be fun to see who can make the biggest bubble in the family, which will bring a since of bonding for all of the children.
9. Make Snacks
Snacking is a must for toddlers, so you might want to add this in to your daily routine. There’s a whole lot of snacks you can make for little ones. Of course, you might want to choose items that will help cool them down. One example is homemade ice cream. You can do this with very basic ingredients at home, so everyone can enjoy their own favorite flavors. If you want a healthier option consider a sorbet. This only requires fruits and a food processor to finish. You can also blend fruits and yogurt and freeze them for delicious popsicles that are also healthy. There are lots of other ideas out there, so check out recipes online and put your little one to work helping make their favorite treats.
10. Car Wash
If you’ve taken your toddler through a car wash then the mesmerized look they give is inspiration enough to create their very own car wash. You can do this is so many different ways. One way that has made the rounds on social media pages and blogs is a car wash made out of pool noodles. This is perfect for kids to run through, or they can ride bikes or ride on cars through the car wash. You can find a tutorial for this online with ease. If you don’t want to go as big then consider allowing your child to have a car wash for their toys. This can easily be done outside with a water hose and sponges as well as your child’s trucks and cars. You can even allow your toddler to help you wash your car to give them a sense of accomplishment.
Toddlers are high energy, which might leave you scrambling for ideas to keep them busy this summer. These ten ideas should help you find a few ways to keep your kids busy and their minds active while the slow summer days pass you by.
