Monday, May 20, 2013

Summer Fun! Kid Activities & Free Printables

I am so excited to share this with you!!!

I was inspired by lists of fun summer activities to do with my kiddos, like this one and this one, but of course I had to remake it so that it was just the way I wanted itSmile If you don’t have a perfectionist and/or crafty bend, feel free to just use this one as is!

Here’s what it looks like, all set up and pretty above my dining room table:

2013-05-17 Summer Fun (1)

I’ve uploaded the pdf as well as the original publisher file (which you obviously can only open if you have publisher). I made them 3.5” square and mounted them onto 4” square pieces of scrapbook paper that I already had (7 sheets of 12 x 12 paper). I used regular yarn and mini clothespins from Joann’s to attach them. I have a DONE envelope to put them in when we’re done. Here are the fonts that I used:

I also made a supplies list for myself, broken down by activity, as well as cost, if any. Of course, there are a handful of activities that are local to my neck of the woods, but you can either just toss those or replace them with ones in your area. I’ve also linked to the resources that I found to actually complete these lovely activities.

Crafts / Cooking

  1. Make Sidewalk Paint
    • Cornstarch
    • Food Coloring
  2. Potato Stamps
    • Potatoes
    • Paint
    • Knife
    • Paper
  3. Make Popsicles
    • Dixie Cups
    • Popsicle Sticks
    • Yogurt
    • Strawberries
    • Lemon Juice
    • Sugar
  4. Paint with Pudding
    • Pudding
    • Muffin Tins
    • Paper
  5. Finger Paint
    • Sugar
    • Salt
    • Corn Starch
    • Food Coloring
    • Jars for paint
  6. Make a Bird Feeder
    • Peanut Butter
    • Plastic bags
    • Bird Seed
    • Plastic spoons
    • Twine
  7. Kool-Aid Soda Pop
    • Kool Aid
    • Sugar
    • Bubble Water
  8. Make Dessert
  9. Make Cupcakes for Neighbors
    • Cake mix
    • Frosting
    • Sprinkles
    • Printed topper
    • Ziplock bags
  10. Snack Necklace
    • Pretzels
    • Cheerios
    • Other snack foods with holes
  11. Make Flubber
    • Elmer’s Glue
    • Borax
    • Food Coloring
  12. Make Play Dough
    • Flour
    • Salt
    • Cream of Tartar
    • Kool Aid
  13. Caramel Popcorn
    • 1/2 cup unpopped corn kernels (10-12 cups popped)
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  14. Craft from Magazine
  15. Make Shirts (I mean decorate some with fabric markers)
  16. Make Ice Cream
  17. Bubble Snake
  18. Make Cookies for Neighbors
  19. Bathtub Painting
    • Clear Glycerin Soap
    • Tempera Paint
    • Long skinny ice cube tray

Outings that may or may not cost money

  1. Picnic
  2. Get a new clothing item
    • $10
  3. Swim
    • $10
  4. Movie at Theater
    • $5
  5. McDonalds Playland
    • $10
  6. Nature Scavenger Hunt
    • Printable
    • Collection bag
  7. Get Slurpees
    • $5
  8. Bowling
    • $10
  9. Zoo
  10. Camping
  11. Bike to Park
  12. Fireworks
  13. Splash Park
  14. Donuts
  15. Go For a Hike

Things to do around our house

  1. Campout in Backyard
  2. Play a Board Game
  3. Movie & Popcorn
  4. Kids Plan Dinner
  5. Ride Bikes
  6. Lemonade Stand
    • Lemon Juice
    • Sugar
    • Cups
    • Signs
    • Table
  7. Learn a New Game
  8. Blanket Fort
  9. Water Balloons
    • Water Balloons
    • Bucket
  10. Breakfast for Dinner
  11. Paper Airplanes
  12. Swim at Our Pool
  13. Water Bottle Fight
  14. Treasure Hunt
    • Clue Cards
    • Envelopes and Plastic Eggs
    • Candy
    • Prizes

Things specific to us here in Fort Collins (although you might be able to find something similar where you live)

  1. Farmer’s Market
  2. Ride the Trolley
    • $6
  3. TCBY
    • $10
  4. Lee Martinez Farm
    • $3 x 3 = $9
    • Pony Rides $5 x 2 = $10?
  5. Mail a Letter to Maria (our sponsored child through WorldVision.org)
  6. Discovery Museum
  7. Swimming at City Park
  8. Ice Cream Truck
  9. Noontime Notes
  10. Walk to the Mullins
  11. Drive In Movie
  12. IMAX at Discovery Museum

I also was thinking that since at least half of these aren’t necessarily summer-only activities, once summer is over, I’ll be putting these in a box or something to pull out once in a while when we need something besides our usual to do.

Also, please don’t be intimidated or think that I’m some kind of super mom!! I can guarantee that we will NOT be doing ALL of these this summer. I just wanted some ideas of some things to do so that we don’t feel like our entire summer slipped away. Some days we might do several of these, but some days (or weeks), we might only get to one or two or none for that matter.

A few others things we’re doing also:

  • Going to as many parks in our town as possible. According to the city’s website, there are 38 parks with playgrounds.
  • Doing several summer reading programs including the one from our library and and a few from this list.
  • Nate is signed up for a music class as well as an Amazing Athletes class through the city.
  • Vacation Bible School! The kids are beyond thrilled and eagerly anticipating VBS

I have a pinterest board just for summer too, so we might do a few more things from there, but who knows?

What are you doing this summer?

~S

In case you missed it in all those words, here are the download files:

Here are the fonts that I used:

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Wordless Wednesday–Tour De Parks

I’ve decided that we’re going to go to as many different parks as we can this summer. According to the city’s website, there are 38 parks with playgrounds. So far, we’ve been to three different ones this week!

You can follow our #tourdeparks adventure on Instagram too :-)

Here’s a few random pictures from our park adventures this week:

2013-05-16 Parks Collage

~S

Linking up at:

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Tots and Me