So far this summer we have had a lot of fun! We’ve managed to get out of the house enough, yet not over do it. I planned several summer activities that I think that kids will enjoy, but the true test of an activity or outing is what the kids think.
So… Here are a list of Kid Tested Summer Fun Ideas and what “my” kiddos thought about them!
(You can read more about our daily summer schedule and structure here.)
Things we Did:
Picnic
We made brownies together in the morning, then packed up our lunch and visited a park we hadn’t visted yet. They had a blast! Just proves you don’t have to get too eleborate (read …pinterest worthy) in order to have fun with the kiddies.
Taste Test
I set out sugar, salt, lemons, and cocoa powder. Each of the three older kids tasted each and described how they tasted. Got some pretty funny facial expressions from this one! Despite being a little scarred by what straight sugar and cocoa taste like, they enjoyed this little experiment.
Father’s Day Survey
I combined a few surveys I found online to make one that suited this group of kids. They had fun writing the answers, and L’s (4) answers were so funny to read!
Things we Made:
Popsicles
I did this with Big Bro (8). We made up our own recipies with fruit juice and sliced fruit, placed them in dixie cups, then froze them. It was fun, but the fruit consistency was off so they didn’t really get eaten.
4th of July Shirts
Read about this activity here. This one was definitely kid approved!
Places we Went:
We live in the Quad City area, so we have both Iowa and Illinois activities to choose from. There are a lot of fun (and inexpensive/free) things to check out!
Our zoo is small, but we still love it! We go all the time, and fun is had each time. We have a pass, so that takes the financial strain out of it. The older kids help me pack a lunch, and we go in the morning through lunch time, then come home for naps. This is always a kid approved activity, and because our zoo is smaller it isn’t a huge undertaking (so it’s nanny approved as well!).
This museum has lots for all ages. The kids love the activities and enjoy looking at the exhibits. This one is a little more difficult for E(19mos), but we try to go in the morning and pack a lunch to eat there, then come home so that naps aren’t missed.
We just visited this little gem this past week. The kids love plants and fish anyway, but this took it to another level. There were activities and an entire children’s garden complete with sand boxes and a water play area. Definitely kid approved, and we are planning our next visit!
We. Love. This. Place. Well, Big Bro doesn’t claim to like it, but once he is there he seems to have fun. During the school year, I take the younger two weekly. It is perfect for them to meet new little friends, practice playing independently and with peers as well as try new activities they wouldn’t get to do anywhere else. Every few seasons, the main exhibit changes so there is always something new to explore.
(The Family Museum, Putnam Museum, Botanical Gardens, and Niabi Zoo are all included in a “Fun Bundle” membership – so we can go anytime! Check it out if you are in the area, and look for something similar in your area.)
Splash Landing
Splash landing is water park-like (3 slides), but still a pool. Entertainment for all ages, and just a little stressful for me trying to keep track of all four kiddos – especially now that the younger two have gotten brave! It has an entire kid pool area with a zero entry as well as a main pool with a zero entry area, so we can still go play with “the big kids” for a little while. It’s small enough that I don’t have to worry about the older two getting lost. The only downside is that it costs us $25 every time we want to swim, so we make it a special treat. They ask to go all the time, which is a sure sign that it’s kid approved.
Library
It may seem silly to list the library, but we LOVE ours! They have summer programs for all the kids as well as computers and a little play area for the younger kiddos. We visit every Monday to pick out books for the week, and we love it. L(4) begs to go to the library every day! Plus, all the libraries in our Quad City area are connected – so we can visit any of them and check out books from any of them. We go “library exploring” sometimes just to break up our routine.
Even if you aren’t local, check the above places out. Then search for places near you that are similar. It is important for kids and you to get out and about a little bit, and places like these are so fun!
What is your favorite thing to do with your kiddos?
Jill says
Love to go to any zoo! Do love to hit the Niabi zoo when we are visiting! It’s a great little zoo. Especially Love the giraffe exhibit! ☺
Anna says
We are crazy for the giraffe exhibit as well! 🙂