Guest Picks: Keep Your Kids Entertained This Summer
Get creative with these story stones. You can buy premade sets or make your own. They are great for outside playtime and can be used to play treasure hunt as well.
I think you could set up a tent like this in the backyard and the kids would be busy for hours in their imaginary worlds. It would also work well inside a playroom as a reading nook.
This is so expensive, but I had to include it because it is just so amazing. What kid wouldn't love spending hours playing in a hobbit hole?
Sprinklers are always good for some fun when the temperatures rise. My girls would love the pink flowers on this one. There's also a worm version.
My kids have two of these educational bingo games and love them both. Each version (and there are many to choose from) features information about the topic, so kids learn more about birds (or butterflies or the ocean or Texas) as they play. They're great for rainy days or for when you are just sick of spending time out in the heat.
There are a million and one versions of this game, but I like the illustrations on this particular set. My family enjoys playing it together.
My kids and I have been playing this game a lot this summer. It's a two-person version of the old-school Perfection game in which you try to get as many shapes into the right spots before the timer ends, then it pops them out at you. You can play this one over and over again, and somehow it never gets old.
You could buy a new set, but I like the look and feel of a vintage croquet set. Leave it set up in the backyard and you've got fun for everyone.
My kids love this sticker pad. They would do the whole thing in one sitting if I didn't limit them to two at a time. You pick a blank face and then add eyes, a nose, a mouth, earrings, etc. to create the person you want. It's a lot of fun and works for a range of ages.
This is the boy version of the sticker pad that my girls love. They haven't tried this one, but it looks just as fun.
How fun would it be to play restaurant with this sticker pad? I love that kids can be creative and stay occupied for long periods of time with these books.
Use this kit to build pictures with blocks by following patterns or creating your own.
If you have a little artist, try a paint-by-number kit. Painting in tiny spaces helps strengthen handwriting skills. I would recommend these for kids age 6 and older.
My family has been loving this book and the meals it has brought to our table this summer. Featuring simple recipes from various countries around the world, you can learn a little geography and taste a different culture without having to leave your home. We like to find the country on our globe and then plan the grocery list and then prepare the meal. It makes dinner a little more special and gives us something to look forward to at the end of the day.
Growing a tiny garden is fun for kids, as they can see how it grows and changes each day.
Toddlers love water tables. This is a fun activity for the backyard or patio.
Read through a fun series together. My kids and I are reading the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary this summer. My 6 year old has fallen in love with the character and loves to pretend she is Ramona and act out different scenarios from the book.
Let your kids decorate their own cardboard playhouse and then spend afternoons playing inside of it!
For older children, these grown-up coloring books are beautiful and entertaining at the same time.Next: The Most Incredible Kids' Tree House You'll Ever See?
If you have a kid who likes crafting, this is a good idea book for easy-to-make projects.
Q