I am enjoying my time this summer with my three little ones. However, most days, we are stuck at home. I’ve mentioned before in numerous blog posts how difficult it is for me to get out of the house with three children ages three and under. But that has not stopped us from having a fun summer in our very own backyard.
Here is a list of super fun activities that we have done that make the days fly by!
1. Kiddie Pools
I bought two cheap plastic kiddie pools from WalMart a few years ago, and we use them almost every sunny day. I fill them up during my 14-month-old twins’ morning nap with the help of my three-year-old son. He loves to play “fireman” and hold the hose while they fill up. Filling the pools up early allows time for the water to warm up. I set up the two pools, along with a water table, right next to one another. Throw in a few plastic sand toys (or bath toys), and they are all set to play for the day.
2. Finger Painting
My older son loves to paint, but I hate the mess. So outdoor finger painting is perfect since you can hose them right off when they are done! I like to spread out butcher paper or even brown paper bags on the grass and let my kids experiment with the paint. The only stress with this activity is ensuring the paint stays out of my twins’ mouths!
3. Swing
I thought my husband was crazy when he picked out an enormous playscape after our big boy’s first birthday (they are so expensive!). But with three kids later, it is one of the best investments. They all love to go up and down the slide and swing (for what seems like hours…how long until they are old enough to pump on their own?) We’ve even eaten lunch in the little clubhouse.
4. Forts
I set up a few lawn chairs in a semi-circle and draped over an old bedroom comforter. Voilà, an instant fort. I’ve even added an extension to our little clubhouse attached to our playscape. For some reason, my 3-year-old can stay put under that fort for quite some time, playing nicely with his brother and sister.
5. Nature Hunts
Grab a bucket or beach pail, or even decorate a paper lunch bag and walk around your yard searching for leaves, nuts, flowers, rocks, etc. Afterward, it’s fun to sort the items you found. One time, we even made a collage of all of our treasures.
6. Bubbles
My twins love bubbles, especially popping them! It’s also fun to experiment with different sizes and styles of wands. I’m toying with the idea of purchasing a bubble machine.
7. Make a Bird Feeder
We made a few simple bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter, birdseed, and string. A very messy job, perfect for outside! Then we searched for a few special places for them to hang. Our favorite thing to do in the morning is check to see if any birdies are visiting our special treats.
8. Trucks, Trucks, and More Trucks
Since birth, my big boy has been obsessed with trucks (and I think his little sister is following along, too). Give him a pile of dirt and some trucks, and he will be in heaven.
9. Chalk
We’ve made roads for all the trucks to drive along, drawn flower gardens, practiced the alphabet, etc. Since my twins can’t yet hold the chalk, I want to try making some sidewalk chalk paint.
10. Popsicles or Ice Cream
A great summer day always ends with a cold treat! And again, if they get too messy, hose them all down!
Love these ideas! My son also loves helping me “garden”, i.e. water the veggies, eat the tomatoes and then spray each other with the hose which he calls the sprinkler. This is pretty much our nightly playtime after work. Too bad that doesn’t count as his bath!
Sounds fun! You got to love the hose!